Children feel unsafe in city, councillors reveal

DISCRIMINATION AND SAFETY ON TRANSPORT CONCERNS

CHILDREN in Newcastle do not feel protected from discrimination and feel unsafe on public transport, according to city chiefs.

Council investigations conducted as part of the initial stages of a project to win Unicef ‘Child Friendly City’ status for Newcastle have revealed that youngsters believe work must be done to tackle stereotypes associated with “certain places, appearance and behaviours”.

The concerns were raised during 10 months of discussions with 145 children, a year after Newcastle City Council made the commitment to put children’s rights at the heart of the city.

Other fears raised by the young people, aged between five and 24, include that “the city has too many shady people and groups of drunken people” and that “buses and trains feel unsafe”.

A report from Ewen Weir, the council’s director for people, said: “Children didn’t feel protected from discrimination and nor were they confident that every child feels included.

“In terms of enjoying a seamless experience of services, the groups felt that louder children get more help and this is especially difficult for children growing up in poverty.

“On the topic of discrimination, it was felt that people need to first understand what is meant by discrimination; it’s only understood by those who had experienced it.”

Children also said that those who have been in the care system are labelled “troublemakers” and that there are “significantly fewer opportunities for activities and for those for whom money is an issue”.

The council says it hopes to have an action plan prepared early next year to tackle the problems, with a formal assessment from Unicef likely to take place in 2020.

Coun Nora Casey, cabinet member for education and skills, said: “Since October 2017 we have been working with children and young people from across Newcastle to create an action plan which will shape our drive to become a UNICEF Child Friendly City.

During the Discovery Stage of this journey we have engaged with over 145 young people aged 5-24, who explored and explained their key ambitions for the city and how Newcastle can be a place they can flourish and reach their potential.

“One of the areas the young people highlighted through this process was discrimination, and the ambition that everyone in the city should feel equal and included.

“I support this ambition and the insight from the young people on how we can achieve this has been put forward in a passionate and