Respect? campaign

We are the new Respect? Young People's Advisory Group! 

We run the award-winning Respect? campaign, which promotes positive public perceptions of young people. We want young people to take ownership of the media and make their opinions heard by using comment opportunities and new technology.

From left to right, top to bottom...

Selina Hope Borji (16) from Liverpool "I left school at 14, but now I'm studying a diploma in creative and media. I'm really interested in youth education and am an ambassador for young people in Liverpool with Find Your Talent. People should realise what young people can achieve for their communities and receive fairer portrayal."

Chris Pike (16) from Cheshire "I love politics, current affairs and groups that make a difference on a national scale. I volunteer at a care home and in a primary school and half of my school year also volunteer in their spare time. I resent the media's stereotype of young people - it represents such as small proportion that it isn't worth mentioning."

Hannah Haddad (16) from Essex "I volunteer with disabled children and a youth journalism group called RedWrite. I want young people to get the respect they deserve!"

Seema Walker (23) Middlesex "I believe society is in danger of creating a self-fulfilling prophesy by expecting the worst of young people. By challenging these negative portrayals, we can turn the tide of public condemnation and inspire youngsters to rise to the challenge of achieving their ambitions. I want my daughter to grow up free from the negative stereotypes portrayed in today's media."

Sophie Manning (23) London "I've been a member of Respect? since it started in 2006, and my experiences so far have shown me that young people can make a difference. We need to take action and start creating our own media to show society how much good work young people actually do."

Casper ter Kuile (23) London "I've seen how we can use new technologies to overcome traditional boundaries in our society, particularly through the work of the UK Youth Climate Coalition, which I set up two years ago. Both the public's perception and the media's portrayal of my generation is wildly inaccurate, and ultimately damaging to young people's work."

Mohammed Iqbal (23) London "I've been campaigning with Respect? since 2006 and this year I'm standing as a candidate in the local elections. The majority of young people shouldn't be demonised because it's the majority that cause trouble."

Liam Pearce (18) Lincolnshire ""Respect? is something that is earned and deserved, not a right. But it is also not right to automatically disrespect somebody. It's a big issue in Britain and negative stereotype is unfair. I've been campaigning with Respect? since 2008, and in that time I've won a Positive Images award for my contribution."

Neel Sapat (16) Middlesex "Every time the news is on there are stories of teen violence and vandalism, but never any mention of the positive work that teens do in the community. I'm a member of the Hillingdon Volunteer Police Cadets and am involved with a number of community projects, and try to act as a role model to younger generations. Why aren't stories like mine in the press?"

Jessica Robinson (16) London "I'm passionate about changing negative perceptions of young people, and have already set up my own online campaign about teenage discrimination. Now I'm writing a play about it too, because I'm fed up of reading negative stories every day!"

Patrick Philpott (20) Hertfordshire "I set up my own business when I was a teenager, so I know what young people can achieve. I'm determined that one day, when people start a sentence with, "The youth of today..." it will be followed by something positive."

Masarat Jilani (16) London "Young people's views are often cast aside or left unheard, for example, not being able to vote at 16 when we can leave school and are given other rights. If we're not taken seriously, how can we be expected to act responsibly? They way forward is to join groups like Respect? so we can tackle such issues together."

Katie Hamilton (20) Leeds "I've been campaigning with Respect? since 2006 and I still believe strongly in what it stands for. We've achieved a lot, but we're still a long way from seeing young people get the respect they deserve."

Danny Colagero (23) London "The youth of a nation are its most precious resource, yet young people today are stigmatised to the extent that they find it hard to achieve their true potential. Young people need to be empowerd, and that's something I want to help achieve."

Respect? believes that:

• It's up to young people to make a difference, that's why young people lead the campaign and encourage others to take action

• New media is the best way for young people to make their voices heard, so we use it

• If we work together we achieve more, so we link up with other campaigns and give as much support to the cause as we can.

Since 2005, the Respect? Young People's Advisory Group has:

• Met with MPs and influenced government policies for young people 
• Been interviewed on national television, radio, newspapers and magazines, as well as local publications, radio and websites
• Won celebrity support
• Delivered talks and speeches at youth and media events across the country

Find out more about Respect? on our Facebook Page and TheSite.org/respect.