MYC: Stage 1 to 2

I complained to Manchester City Council AGAIN over MYC. Their response was far from satisfactory. Here is my response:

Dear Complaints,

I would like to progress the complaint further to stage 2.

• The reasons why you remain dissatisfied

  
  

My questions were not fully dealt with in the complaint. The Manchester Youth Council promised to carry out three activities:

1. An Apology 

2. A Volunteer Pack

3. MYC Phasing Out Policy

Your response has only dealt with two of these solutions that was agreed upon by REDACTED and REDACTED at the initial meeting in March which REDACTED also attended. Since then, I have asked what is happening and received limited updates. 

I am aware of the emails I have as you have repeated here. What I am confused over is how there is still no response to when my apology will be addressed and posted. REDACTED said that this would be soon after the meeting but nothing has been done. 

In regards to the Volunteer Pack, I think it is unacceptable just how long it has taken with staff absences etc. I was told in October 2022 that it would be complete in January 2023 latest. Why has it taken over two years to make a volunteer pack? Has MYC no current volunteers? How are things being regulated effectively for young people to be safeguarded? I was over 18 and was under no volunteer pack for more than two years until being told out of the blue to sign one that had not even been created. I was excluded from MYC until it was made and it still hasn’t been made! Why? 

I do want to know when it is finalised and wish to review it because I don’t trust the organisation to do this efficiently. It has already taken two years to get this far in complaints after months of emails and fake promises.

In terms of the Phasing Out Policy - I expect to be updated and involved in its creation. As someone who was repeatedly denied access to MYC, ignored for months and excluded from all activities, I understand more than any other person what needs to be implemented in this policy. I think it is ridiculous that there cannot be any form of reimbursement and that I will have to give more of my valuable time to do this. But how can I allow other young people to go through what I have? I expect to be told when that policy is being made and included in its formation and implementation. 

• How you expect the complaint to be resolved

  
  

I expect:

- The public apology that REDACTED and REDACTED both agreed to in March 

- Updates on the Volunteer Pack: a clear timeline and deadline for when this will be done because two years is already laughable

- Involvement in the development, creation, and implementation of the Phasing Out Policy

I very much look forward to hearing from you regarding this matter. It has been affecting me for so long and I want to resolve it to ensure that young people at MYC will not be subject to what I went through after 7 years of dedication. 

If you seek any further information or clarification, contact me. I have been using my blog to update young people on the progress of this matter, so I can recount the communications in detail. 

Regards,

Ishaa Asim 

Former Member of Youth Parliament for Manchester 

*Some communications were left out due to names