Plan puts children's priorities first

Article date: 8th February 2024

The St Helens Children's and Young People's Plan has been approved by St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet as the focus for those who support children and young people.

The plan sets out five key priorities and outcomes which have been drawn up with the help of young people and those who work with them. They are:

·       Children and young people are and feel safe

·       Children and young people are happy, healthy and enjoy good mental health and wellbeing

·       Children and young people have the resources to develop independence and empowerment over their services

·       Children and young people have the tools to fulfil their potential and are prepared for success in adulthood

·       Children and young people grow up with a sense of belonging

Councillor Nova Charlton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "Our children and young people want St Helens Borough to be a great place to live, learn, work, and play. A place where all children and young people have a positive start in life, achieve in education and learning, are healthy, feel safe, are listened to, and are excited about their future because they have realistically high aspirations.

"This strategy sets out how our council and partners services and schools will work together for every child in St Helens to ensure that their highest aspirations can be met. This means we will work together and prioritise those children and young people that have had the hardest start in life such as those with SEND, those that are looked after, children in need and those who live in poverty.

"We are proud of the work of our schools, our partner agencies and our council children's services but we are not complacent. We know that the challenges that many of our children and young people are facing continue to grow.

"The impacts of poverty, in particular, are the greatest concern given that almost a half of children in St Helens live in poverty and sadly it means it can have a detrimental impact on the life chances, health and achievement of many children and young people in the borough. Though complex, this is something that we have to tackle head-on and do so together.  Children also want to feel safe both out and about as well as online.

"Our children and young people have told us that they are proud of St Helens, its rich history, its beautiful countryside, its sporting and cultural achievements and its friendly communities but they are also fearful for the future of the planet and they want us to do more to tackle the climate crisis. This plan will help us focus on providing the necessary support to give every child a chance to thrive and build a brighter future for our borough."

You can read the full plan online here: St Helens Children's and Young People's Plan 2024-2027