Issue - meetings

The Assembly received the BAD Youth Forum’s Annual report, introduced by the Head of Engagement Opportunity and Wellbeing, who was accompanied by representatives of the Youth Forum.

This report detailed the achievements of the Barking and Dagenham Youth Forum during 2018. Outlining the work of each of the sub-groups, their aims and the impact of the work have completed.

The Barking and Dagenham Youth Forum was now in its 17^th year. It existed to provide young people with a formal platform to express their views and be ambassadors for young people locally. The Forum elected 60 young people each year through a democratic election process in each school, supported by Democratic Services. In 2018 ELUTEC opted to become members of the Forum, electing their first ever representatives. Trinity Special School elected new representatives this year, via an internal election process suitable to the needs of students.

The Forum representatives highlighted a number of areas of their work during the year, including:

Community Action Sub-Group: Young people expressed concerns about the quality of education being provided by supply teachers in secondary schools. They also led Drug and Alcohol Awareness Sessions where young people discussed concerns about a lack of awareness of drugs and alcohol and their effects on young people.

Crime Sub-Group: Throughout the year, the Group continued to discuss issues relevant to young people, including crime and in particular knife crime and invited Cabinet Members and the Metropolitan Police to a meeting to discuss their concerns in this matter.

Young Mayor Sub-Group: Events included Women’s Empowerment Month launch and the Youth Parade. The chosen charity during the year was the New Horizon Youth Centre which raised £4770.89 towards their work and this would be used to purchase ID cards for young people who accessed the New Horizon Youth Centre in the form of a passport.

Young Inspectors Sub-Group: Young inspectors were commissioned by Public Health Officers in the borough to quality assure the Come Correct Condom Distribution scheme (C- card scheme) in Barking and Dagenham. They also inspected retail outlets that were selling knives, in some cases to underage children. In answer to a question from Members, representatives of the Sub-Group confirmed they would consider inspecting other areas.

The Chair thanked representatives of the Forum for their excellent presentation and their work during the year. Members welcomed their work in raising civic pride and considered they were a credit to the borough, which included their sterling work on inspections at pharmacies, selling of knives, drug and alcohol and quality of teachers. They also welcomed their attendance at a recent Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting in which they related their experiences going to and from and being at school.