Agenda item

The Assembly received and noted the annual report of the Barking & Dagenham Youth Forum (the Forum) introduced by Christine Pryor, Divisional Director of Targeted Support, who introduced the following Forum representatives – Paul Cox, Faraz Hanif, Alex Lau, Danya Lahmami, Florida Docu, Jade Ramsey, Rebecca Casey, Scarlett Ward and William Haggis, who in turn each spoke about the work of the Forum.

The Crime and Community Sub Group:

·  Created short video interviews to be used as part of the National Citizens Summer project based on subjects of loitering and public security, poor bus provision and racism and discrimination.

·  A filming project with interviews covering stereotyping, music influence, healthy eating and obesity. These films will be uploaded onto the Council’s YouTube channel.

·  Discussions with the local police about tensions and lasting problems from the riots in 2011. Custody suite tour, fire arms workshop and a stop and search monitoring group with a local Police Inspector

·  Arc Theatre workshops looking at girls in gangs and sexual exploitation and domestic and sexual violence. 

The Student Voice Sub Group have undertaken research into the support on offer to young people going through the transition from year 11 to 6^th form, increased information for young people about to go through transition, as well as speaking to current 6^th formers to gain their views.

The research included use of web sites as well as the issue of a questionnaire, the overall findings of which included young people requiring more detailed information on courses on offer to ensure students made the right choices, a better understanding of the changes in workload when moving up to 6^th form, better support for independent learning, and the creation of a dedicated website providing a range of information.

The outcomes and findings from the research were presented to Consortium Heads, the Principal Adviser to Secondary Schools and the Divisional Director of Education. 

Throughout the year the Young Inspectors Sub Group have carried out the following inspections

·  Pharmacies to check on correct condom distribution

·  Sydenham Centre over three dates to review sexual health services for young people

·  Barking Police station on two occasions exploring the relationship between young people and police officers and how effective this relationship is

·  Barking Learning Centre including a mystery shopper exercise in the library to identify more appropriate youth books

·  Integrated Youth Service - a table top inspection of youth service behaviour, policies and codes of conduct, and

·  London and Quadrant Housing Association- a successful bid to carry out in the coming months four inspections in partnership with L&Q. The bid has secured income for the service of £3,300

The following consultations have been carried out by the Forum:

·  Seetec (Employment and Skills Training programme) looking at the barriers for young people engaging in employment and training in the Borough

·  Completion of an on line survey about young people’s perception of the House of Commons

·  Community Cohesion Strategy

·  Joint Strategic Needs Analysis

·  Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy

·  Ofsted – “Have your say on how we inspect services to protect children”

·  Borough catering

·  Borough transport

·  Pharmacies

Faraz Hanif was elected to represent the Forum on the UK Youth Parliament.  He has attended two British Youth Council/UK YP conventions as well as the annual debate in the House of Commons in November 2012.

Other events that the Forum members have taken part in:

·  Skills 4 Adulthood Day, an event run by Progress Project

·  Children’s Commissioner National Takeover Day, where young people shadowed the work of senior Council Officers

·  A stand at the Town Show

·  Team building day at Stubbers Outdoor Activity Centre

·  The Chair of the Forum attended the Children’s Services Select Committee throughout the year

·  Attended the Paralympics

·  The Forum, Progress Project and Skittlz (Children in Care) held a Q&A session with national, regional and local  political leaders as part of Local Democracy Week in October 2012

Full Forum meetings were held in January 2012 when topics to focus on this year were discussed; in April 2012 when a question time session was held; and in July 2012 when the Forum visited the Houses of Parliament and met with Jon Cruddas MP.

In summing up, the representatives outlined comments made by other Forum members about the positive experiences they had gained from being involved.

Following questions from Members, the Assembly congratulated the representatives on their excellent presentation.