Young people set out their priorities in It's Our Borough Too declaration

Article date: 25th April 2024

Working with St Helens Youth Council, Vibe and other youth organisations across the borough young people have been talking about what matters to them. Their thoughts have been brought together in a youth declaration called It's Our Borough Too.

The six priorities that the Youth Council selected are:

·       Make sure no one goes hungry in St Helens.

·       Make St Helens safer for young people.

·       More help for young people with mental health and wellbeing.

·       More places for young people to go that are affordable and accessible.

·       Preparing young people for the future and helping them to achieve their ambitions.

·       Look after our environment and the climate, and ensure our borough is clean and tidy.

Councillor David Baines, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, said: "As a former teacher, a dad of two young children, and a proud corporate parent as a member of the council, I am passionate about listening to the concerns and hopes of children and young people and doing everything possible to give each and every one of them the best start in life. 

"We made that mission the council's number one priority in our Borough Strategy agreed under my leadership, and together we've invested in rebuilding and improving schools, we've improved Children's Services, we've invested in accessible play equipment in our parks, and we're working with businesses, schools and colleges to create training and job opportunities. And now we're now proud to announce this Children and Young People's Declaration.

"This declaration is a whole council document and will cover everything from early years education and schools to housing and employment, and I want it to be a vital working document which we and the whole borough can use to make sure we are meeting the needs of young people and future generations. 

"We can only secure the best for them if we all work together - the council, schools, families, businesses, residents, and children and young people themselves. It is so important that we hand the next generation a better world than the one we found, and this is intended as a step towards making that happen."

The draft document will now move forward to wider consultation with young people, partners and businesses on how collectively everyone can play a part in supporting young people in the borough.

Councillor Nova Charlton, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, added: "We've been amazed by the thoughtful input that young people across our borough have already put into this declaration. Their considered evaluation on what matters to them has helped to shape the priorities that our Youth Council has pulled together and the themes speak loudly to what really matters to young people at this moment in their lives.

"Now we will look to draw a wider view on how we can all play our role in supporting young people and meeting their needs as a central thread through all the work we and others do to build a St Helens Borough fit for the people who will be its future."

Read a draft of It's Our Borough Too at our website here and see a video of the Youth Council talking about the declaration on our social media channels.