Children and Young peoples Plan - Positive Contribution

Making York the best place where children and young people can grow up.

	Below are the key messages that came out of the consultation around issues affecting Positive Contribution of Children and Young People. If you want to know more about what people told us you can download a longer summary for the 'positive contribution' section.

Key Messages

Knowledgeable adults - Knowledgeable communities

There was a need to support parents and communities as basis for support for children and young people. This to include more efforts to value, facilitate learning and enable parents to be pro-active. Parenting support was seen as hugely important.

Involve the communities as a whole into our planning mechanisms

Ensuring young people are engaged in planning processes through consultation, ensure this is an inclusive process. Look at new ways of communicating with young people eg mobile phone, facebook; To ensure communication happens in a way which engages young people and is relevant to them.

Community Cohesion

York was seen as a rapidly changing city, with people from all parts of the world contributing to the life of the city. There was a call to celebrate cultures and communities.

Image of children and young people is poor:

Clear need to promote the positive image of children and young people. This will only happen through specific work, it will not happen by accident. To include the celebration of achievements by children and young people.

Cross generational activities

Need for promotion of cross-generational activities which will break down barriers.

Reduce Offending

Partnerships should work more closely to ensure that children are being more systematically identified if they are at risk of multiple disadvantage and risky behaviours and robust services offered.

Supporting volunteering by young people

Need for young people to have ownership of projects and to be consulted about things that are targeted at them. Examples given:

• Community arts projects to decrease graffiti and promote community spirit;
• Membership of national youth parliament, with a supporting youth council;
• New ways of communicating with young people e.g. mobile phones, Social Engagement Networks.