The Durham Five

The views of children and young people captured in the Investors In Children document, give an opportunity for the Children’s Service Authority to plan service delivery in response to need and request, as presented by the service users. Involving children and young people in decision making processes or allowing room for influence in policy making set-ups, has become more and more accepted and practiced within the statutory sector.
To assure inclusiveness and give other children and young people’s forums an opportunity to participate in this exercise, we requested them to examine the 5 Outcomes and raise issues which need to be taken into consideration when planning/delivering services.

The following forums took part in this consultation process either by submitting information as a response to the Investors In children document t or by providing information their forum of young people had already collated in relation to the 5 Outcomes or themes closely linked to the Outcomes. The following groups of young people responded:

• Connexions local youth forum – Free Voice
• Children Fund projects
• Derwentside Youth Forums – Spice
• Shaidy Characters (Forum on Homelessness)
• Sedgefield Children and Young People
• Chester-le-Street Children and Young People
• Easington Youth Forum
• Durham Children and Young People’s Council (link to School Councils)

A detailed report on the individual responses is included, which can contribute to local planning as much as it provides an overall outlook on the issues young people present independent of background, residence or forum they engage with.

Generally, the issues shared by all are:

• Safety
• Bullying
• Negative perception from adults
• The need to be in safe places/ safer streets

• Things to do
• Variety of options (structured, relaxing, sociable)
• Demand for quality (venue, skilled staff, not the cheapest option)
• Relative to request (according to age, need)

• Changes within schools
• Improvement on curriculum options
• Participation in decision making
• Worthy out of school and after school options

• Alcohol/Smocking/Diet
• Access to services and information (friendly to young people, responsive to need and preference)
• Reduce cost of healthy options
• Across the board policies

• Interactive Involement
• Clear mechanisms and structures to influence decision making
• Involvement in planning

• Transport /Evironment
• Affordable and frequent transport
• Improve outdoors environment to embrace the needs of children and young people

You can view the whole report on the PDF link. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader from the Adobe website.

C &YP Forums 5 Outcome Response.pdf

Number of pages: 12

File Size: 38.5kb