Council sets out its priorities for youngsters in Northumberland

Members of the Northumberland Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership, with young people from Northumberland's Youth Cabinet and Youth Parliament, at the launch of the Northumberland Children and Young People’s Plan 2019-2022. Pictured at the front of the group photo are Cath McEvoy-Carr, executive director of adult social care and children's services at Northumberland County Council, and Cllr Wayne Daley, cabinet member for children's services at the council.

The plan sets out a vision for Northumberland as ‘a place where meeting the needs of children, young people and families is the focus - so that they get the best out of life’.

It has been developed by a partnership of Northumberland County Council, NHS health organisations, the police, and schools, who all sit on the Northumberland Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership.

Teams have worked closely with young people from across the county in developing the plan, and over 1,700 children and young people have been involved in saying what they would like to see in their futures.

The top priorities that have been identified are:

Children and young people knowing that their voice will influence decisions that affect them;

Children and young people having the ‘best start in life’;

Ensuring that all services work together towards tackling any form of disadvantage;

Children and young people having access to the best quality education to prepare them for adult life;

Children and young people feeling safe and supported and able to cope with life’s ups and downs; and

Promoting and supporting children and young people to be healthy.

Some of the young people who were involved in developing the plan met with members of the Northumberland Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership at County Hall in Morpeth this week to help mark its official launch.

Coun Wayne Daley, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “This plan sets out the partnership’s hopes and ambitions and a shared vision for the future for young people in Northumberland.

“Launching the plan is only the start of course, and now the work on acting on what our young people have told us really begins.”

“We all need to work together to understand the challenges children face, acknowledge their hopes and wishes, and make the most of every resource we have at our disposal, to give them the best possible childhood and opportunities while they live in this special and unique county.”

The full plan is on Northumberland County Council's website.