Young people in an area of Carlisle have been given a voice to influence local issues.
Members of the Cumbria Youth Co-research Collective have worked closely with Cumberland Council’s Petteril Community Panel, agreeing how it can encourage and include the views and needs of young people in its decision making.
The Cumberland Council panel covers the city’s wards of Botcherby, Currock, Harraby South, Harraby North and Upperby.
The participants, aged 14 to 18, presented their report at a recent panel meeting.
Their work has resulted in a young person’s working group which will influence the panel’s decision-making and there will also be two co-opted panel member roles created for 14-to-17-year-olds.
Cllr Justin McDermott, executive member for public health and communities, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our young people and those that worked to produce this innovative report – and I am proud to be following that up with meaningful action, not just words.
“I made a clear commitment to our young people to give them a voice in our community and in our decision making processes, and giving them a place on our community panel does exactly that. This is a big step forward in my mission to empower communities to make where they live and work even better.
“I urge young people living in the area to speak with our community development team to get involved. Your voice will be heard and you will make a difference – no one knows what you need to do well better than you do yourself!”
Cllr Lisa Hinton, chair of Petteril Community Panel, added: “This piece of work will influence our whole decision-making process, and I am extremely proud of the young people involved.
“We can’t say we are a listening council unless we strive to see things from all perspectives. The only way we could see a young person’s perspective was for them to help us and get involved, which they have done fantastically well.
“The working group will be a voice for the young and will help us in creating projects together. This work is invaluable, and I thank everyone who is involved.”
Caroline Taylor-Beswick, chief executive of Carlisle Youth Zone, which delivered the project, said: “The potential of young people is often underestimated.
“They have helped the panel better understand their needs and priorities, and been at the heart of the process through the new Cumbria Youth Co-research Collective.
“It is important to acknowledge the significance of the panel choosing to invest in this approach, and how it has affected the young people’s confidence and development. The outcomes are transformational.”
Petteril Community Panel members also agreed to adopt the Lundy model of child participation. This framework pledges to give children a safe space to freely express their views, and to act on those views.
The group’s report to the panel can be read here.
There are eight community panels across Cumberland, made up of ward councillors, and each meet four times a year to decide what their communities need, and to direct investment towards projects that tackle those priorities.
Cumberland Council said the process put local people at the heart of decision-making, and supported its focus on health and wellbeing.
