AN exciting new way to reach out to young people and allow them to share their concerns over school conflicts, cyber bullying, eating disorders and even to pour out their worries over love has been launched by West Devon Borough Council on the social networking site Facebook. 

The iBox Devon page was launched last week. It follows a face-to-face and online survey of young people in the council area who helped shape its creation by West Devon Corporate Web editor Tony Edgecumbe and the council's design team.

This is a pilot with selected agencies providing young people with information on services that are available for them and exchanging experiences and problems on a video wall. It provides partners an opportunity to consult with young people and identify the challenges and issues they face.

This enables young people to view videos and pages offering information on topics like leaving home, drug advice, sexual health and sporting opportunities. They can see posts about current news items, make a comment on them and share them with their friends on social networks. 

It is designed to improve the council's interaction with young people and support them with the benefit of skills, experience and knowledge.

Later this year a micro website http://www.ibox.org.uk">www.ibox.org.uk will carry the same information and offer opportunities to communicate with the council on matters that affect young people and the communities in which they live.

West Devon Borough Council Leader Cllr  Philip Sanders said: 'As a council we like to feel that we can provide help and advice to everyone regardless of age.

'By using Facebook in this way we not only make it possible for young people to communicate with each other on special areas of concern but to be directed to a wealth of useful information.

'As the service develops, young people will be able to easily interact with us and to guide us in developing services and communities that provide for their needs. It is vital that young people take an active part in shaping future communities and services.'

Young people can visit the Facebook page iBox Devon (facebook.com/#!/IBoxDevon) which will carry information on the website developments and launch. To be involved or to submit items for posting, contact the community team at [email protected]">[email protected] or on 01822 813600/01803 861234.