Voice of youth

News Shopper's first online youth editors are 17-year-old Alison Moulds, from Petts Wood, and Josh Tate, aged 15, from St Mary Cray. They will be writing regular articles for newsshopper.co.uk Their job will be to shed light on some of the main issues facing teenagers growing up in south east London and north Kent. Read their articles here - and add your comments if you want to have your say, offer some feedback or suggest a future topic for discussion.

The great north-south divide

4:58pm Tuesday 8th April 2008

During a recent three-hour train ride from Durham to London King's Cross, I prepared myself for sunnier climes yet greater hostility on public transport.

Battle for school places 4:48pm Fri 4 Apr 08 Official figures have revealed that 18.4 per cent of children failed to obtain a place at their first-choice secondary school this year.

Weekends cause 'leisure sickness' 4:45pm Mon 10 Mar 08 Whatever happened to living for the weekend? After five exhausting days of early risings and monotonous routines, adults and teens alike convince themselves that Friday night onwards is more than worth waiting for.Reader comments (4)

Putting spare time to good use 4:33pm Mon 10 Mar 08 Last weekend, I was part of a huge event in Orpington to help clear up the town, help the people, or just cheer them up.Reader comments (2)

Delights of London on our doorstep 3:51pm Mon 10 Mar 08 Despite living in close proximity to the capital for the last 18 years, it is only when forced to consider the pros and pitfalls of prospective university towns that I finally appreciate the delights of London life.

The impossible dream 3:50pm Fri 7 Mar 08 Throughout childhood, society appears to perpetuate the myth that we can be anything we want to be if we put our minds to it, encouraging not only ambitious but impossible dreams in an effort to motivate the young.Reader comment (1)

Boxing clever in schools 12:15pm Thu 28 Feb 08 Boxing is a sport that may have had a bad reputation in the past, as being excessively violent, dangerous and probably not a good thing for young people to be doing.Reader comment (1)

Fear of student debt 11:45am Thu 28 Feb 08 Faced with an onslaught of mock examinations and coursework deadlines, schools appear to have allowed personal / social / health education lessons to ditch their reputation for tackling some of the more controversial teenage subjects in favour of confronting sixth-formers with the infamous brutalities of student debt.Reader comments (3)

Find a hobby and have fun 5:12pm Fri 22 Feb 08 Everyone should have a hobby. They can help relieve stress, improve fitness, and most of all, let you have fun.

New ID scheme for teenagers

4:45pm Friday 22nd February 2008

Sixteen to 18-year-olds throughout Bromley are set to receive council-funded ID in a bid to undermine the use of counterfeit cards.

More ...