Young people have highlighted the regeneration of local youth services as crucial to delivering communities that better meet their needs as part of a blueprint for a fairer society.
A group of young leaders convened by charity Children England say every neighbourhood should have a youth centre to act as a hub for activities and engagement between local authorities, as the creators and “governors” of community places, and young people.
The measure is one of several proposals put forward by the young leaders aged 13-21 to make neighbourhoods better places for children to grow up as part of Children England's Vision for a ChildFair State report.
The project, launched in 2019, challenged the young leaders to identify what a fair support system for children would look like and suggest policy changes to achieve that across five key areas: health, education, neighbourhoods, benefits and housing, each with a series of proposals attached (see box).
Neighbourhoods
The young leaders said they were worried about their safety, felt excluded from the local decision-making processes, identified a lack of spaces and activities for young people, and wanted more opportunities for intergenerational interaction and collaboration.
“Young people want their area to feel safe and with things to do, places to interact and services that are not only connected to each other but include citizens as volunteers, decision-makers, and service designers and providers,” states the report.
Young people argue for “much more” investment in local communities, including for local authorities, to break down the barriers and mistrust that have arisen between young people and civic society, which in turn will reap wider economic and social benefits. The vision calls for:
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Improved spaces and opportunities to interact and build relationships that will generate a greater level of care for the shared environment and a sense of safety and belonging.
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Involving young people in all local decisions through youth-focused mechanisms and multi-generational forums.
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Physical spaces and local venues to be accessible to children with disabilities and support made available for young people to participate safely with the help of community police officers.
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The creation of “growth spaces” – multi-purpose sites for services, social activities and community life – to host intergeneration discussions and a sense of shared goals.
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Weekly community days run by schools where pupils take part in activities to build relationships and a sense of purpose to community development.
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An annual neighbourhood day – a national holiday to spend time in the community on activities which are linked to the school curriculum and involve school councils submitting ideas for changes to the local council.
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The Vision for a ChildFair State report describes community health hubs as providing access to professionals and volunteering roles “meaning people's perceptions of themselves and their purpose at community level would change and barriers between service users and professionals would be reduced”.
Hubs would have access to health data and information on community assets and support networks “so that no one is excluded by lack of information from connecting with the support and opportunities they need”.
Policy changes
In addition to reopening youth centres, the young leaders call for councils to be given the resources and freedom to work with communities “to invest in things people want and need”.
Local authorities would also be required to fund the creation of an independent local youth board whose representatives would sit on council committees. Boards could also steer newly created child-owned trusts that would give community assets to children and young people to run and use.
The young leaders’ call for public transport to be free for all children and young people and a new duty to ensure public transport routes connect regularly with schools and colleges across an area.
Kathy Evans, chief executive of Children England, says: “Putting the young leaders’ ideas into action isn’t just for national politicians: it's for neighbours, schools and local communities, public and charity professionals and volunteers of all kinds; and for local and regional decision-makers as well as national institutions.”
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Report from www.childrenengland.org.uk
YOUNG LEADERS’ KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
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Ban permanent exclusions in favour of interventions that support children to stay in education
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Roll out free school meals for all pupils so that hunger doesn’t stop children learning
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The right to a named contact to help children navigate the health system and an advocate to accompany them to appointments
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Mental Health First Aiders to be mandatory in all schools
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The right to person-centred advice on money, training, employment, housing – all the things a young person needs to become independent
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Abolish the lower minimum wage rates for under-18s and under-25s and make the national minimum wage a Real Living Wage
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End the restrictions on housing benefit for under-25s so that they can access the same range of housing as older people
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Create a legal housing duty expressed towards children – that no child should ever be homeless.
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Source: Vision for a ChildFair State, Children England, May 2023
