Young leaving care could get help with council tax

YOUNG people leaving care could have their council tax suspended for the first year.

That’s just one of the findings from a commission formed to find out what young people in Glasgow need to flourish.

As first told in the Evening Times, the Youth Engagement Policy Commission was set up in 2016 to give a voice to young city residents.

It has now released a report that will go to executive committee on February 2.

Chaired by councillor Martin McElroy, the commission looked at young people’s priorities and what stops them engaging with public agencies.

Mr McElroy said: “This has been an incredibly important piece of work and very refreshing to engage with a variety of young people and youth groups across the city.

“The council identified the need to find out how young people felt they were being treated, viewed and listened to – only then can we make changes or target our services to meet their needs.”

Young people make up 24 per cent of Glasgow’s 600,000-strong population but they are less likely to vote in elections or referendums and are less politically engaged.

A call for evidence, from July 26 to September 14, drew 200 responses and the group also worked with charities, members of the Scottish Youth Parliament and Glasgow Youth Council and trades unions.

Among other things, young people reported tension with police and said they felt unfairly targeted by officers, such as with stop and search, when they were out walking.

They also reported an increased concern about hate crime and higher levels of poor mental health.

Teenagers also said they felt dis- criminated against as they pay an adult fare on public transport at 16 but are paid a lower hourly rate of pay at work.

An initial action plan from the group gives suggestions of changes the city council can make and others that the Scottish Government or other agencies could undertake.

These include appointing a Youth Champion; improve training for teachers to tackle homophobia, transphobia and biphobia in schools; extend concessionary schemes on transport; create a single tiered Glasgow Living Wage that rewards skills and not age; reduce the age of legal gender to 16; and work with Glasgow Disability Alliance to improve access to public agencies for young disabled people.

Mr McElroy added: “I would like to thank all the groups and individuals, organisations and groups that have put forward their views and ideas over the last year. What’s important now is that we work together to deliver on the recommendations outlined in the report.”