WIMPS?

WIMPS stands for 'Where Is My Public Servant?'. It is a project of Public Achievement. It is a website and project run by and for young people. It is about getting your ideas out there, and in particular to help you to influence decision makers in government and other places.

WHAT DOES THE WIMPS SITE DO?

The site has a database of all public representatives in Northern Ireland searchable by using your postcode to identify all your representatives from local Council to European Parliament level.   You can then write a message, and click on a button to send emails to these representatives about the issues they are interested in (you need to be a registered user before you can do this).

WIMPS staff, volunteers and site users update the site on a daily basis with articles and information about a range of issues of interest for young people, and reports on projects and issues that groups of young people are working on. Young people all over Northern Ireland can also contact the site to receive direction and advice in how to take action on community issues that affect them and that they feel strongly about.

Multi-Media

One of the most exciting aspects of this new site, is our ability to create and use multi-media to get the message out. Video 'hotseats' are interviews conducted by young people with leading political figures. These interviews are designed to get politicians views on issues important to young people, but also to find out more about the politician as a person.

In the 'Media' section, you can see a range of films created by teams of young people around issues that are important to them. Contact us if you want to make a film in your community about something important. We will help you to plan, shoot, edit and produce the film, and then get it onto the site. You can also send us your audio and video files, which we can put onto the site and also make available as podcasts.

Also check out the 'Your Project' section. Here's the place where you can tell us about the project you are working on. Tell us how you are getting on, what problems you've encountered. Do you want help, or have you advice for other groups? Would you like to contact other groups? You can even upload your own resources here for others to look at.

...and don't forget the discussion forum. There are always a range of topical issues being discussed. It is a great place to get your views across, and to hear what others have to say.

THE WIMPS VISION

To be a website that helps create real relationships between young people and the decision makers who influence their lives.

A website that is informative, inspiring, un-biased and accessible to everyone; creating, sustaining and multiplying educated and empowered young people as a significant force for good in N.Ireland.

WANT TO BE A WIMP?

WIMPS is about young people being heard and taking action, that means that ANY young person who wants to be taken seriously can join us in the work we are trying to do. So if you want to get involved in any way at all, surf the WIMPS site, see what you think and then contact us and join our team!