Public shows support for Youth Fight for Jobs campaign

On Tuesday 21 July the Bristol YFJ campaign presented a petition of over 200 signatures to the council.

The hard work spent holding stalls, petitioning and raising awareness of the campaign really paid off as we managed to get local print, radio and TV coverage, hopefully spreading the message that there is a way to fight back to the thousands of those, like us, who are struggling to find employment.

Despite moves by the council to prevent us giving a statement with our petition because of an administrative error, it went off without a hitch.

I highlighted the rapidly increasing scale of youth unemployment and the failure of government to address the problem. The speech was met by a large round of applause led by the public gallery and joined by a sheepish council, who looked rightfully ashamed of their inaction in the face of the current crisis.

Overall the support shown by members of the public for the campaign is encouraging, as it demonstrates there is real backing for our generation's struggle in the face of the biggest recession since the 1930s.

Jack Jeffery, Bristol YFJ