Six pitch view to youth body
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SIX young people from across Halton and Frodsham have presented their findings from a consultation gathering the thoughts of 2,000 of their county peers to inform the police and other agencies on they issues affecting them.
The project was completed by Cheshire Police And Crime Commissioner David Keane’s Youth Commission, whose aim is to provide a chance to influence policy decisions.
A spokeswoman for Mr Keane’s office said that over the last 12 months, the team has spoken to thousands across the county about key issues, identifying the following priorities: sexual harassment and consent, social media and staying safe online, stereotyping and trust in the police, and drug and alcohol use and abuse.
They then presented their findings at their annual conference, attended by more than 80 repre- sentatives of public safety agencies.
Mr Keane said: “With more than a quarter of residents under the age of 25, I supported the Youth Commission because I wanted young people to have a voice and be heard.
“Over the last two years, we’ve managed to recruit 56 ambassadors to the Youth Commission from a variety of backgrounds and different areas across Cheshire.
“They have worked incredibly hard to capture important feedback from their peers on issues which matter to them and the members did a tremendous job in presenting their findings to a room full of local police service leaders and key partners at the conference.
“I look forward to receiving a final report which details the outcomes of the consultation and I promise to work with the young people to take forward the recommendations to improve how the police deal with these important issues.”
Ali Roberts, programme co-ordinator of the social enterprise Leaders Unlocked, which has helped to co-ordinate the project in Cheshire, said: “Cheshire Youth Commission provides a fantastic opportunity for young people across the county from a variety of backgrounds to have peer-to-peer conversations, giving a voice to those who may not usually have that opportunity.
“It’s been a brilliant journey for all of the members involved and the conference was an inspiring event, showcasing all of the hard work and dedication of the Youth Commission.
“It was great to see so many partners attend the conference to listen to the findings of the research, and we thank PCC David Keane and the constabulary for their continued support and passion for the Youth Commission.”
Shoni Rae, Youth Commission member, said: “My experiences of the Cheshire Youth commission have been amazing. I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the commission, from the meetings to being able to go out and actually speak to members of the public.
“The conference was a brilliant opportunity to talk to senior members of organisations from across Cheshire.”