Cornwall College student, Alice Harry is set to launch the Young Person’s Newspaper (YPN) later this year following a pilot issue going out on the 10th June 2015.
The newspaper will be targeting 16 to 24 year olds and will be distributed in sixth forms and colleges throughout the South West region as well as being available online via ISSUU, the digital publishing platform. The content focuses on real life issues that young people have to face and overcome while growing up, that are not necessarily addressed within education. The paper will also include inspiring stories and articles on real, hard working people and their successes.
Alice came to the SWIG Finance offices to interview some of the team about the options for young people looking to start businesses either alongside or instead of the traditional routes for young people. Originally launched to support 18-24 year olds, the government-backed Start Up Loans Scheme was designed around supporting young people into self-employment. Now available for anybody over the age of 18, the loan comes with fully funded pre-investment business advice and on-going mentoring support for 12 months.
Alice came up with the idea for YPN after noticing that most media publications that were targeted towards young people lacked any sort of support or knowledge for herself and other people her age. From experiencing and noticing this lack of supportive material, she wanted to make a change and this is when YPN took shape. Through the development of her idea, it made her realise that she could also create a platform in which young people could gain the experience that evidently most people lack and employers currently demand; through writing articles, graphics and designing within the magazine.
Alice said: “After realising that other young people recognise the lack of support that media publications give when facing difficult hurdles or decisions throughout early adulthood, it motivated me even more to produce YPN in the hope that I could change how young people look and approach everything.
“I want to help and support those that are going through the same struggles and difficulties that I have previously been through.”
Find out more about the Start Up Loans Scheme.