Agenda item

Members are invited to interview Members of the Youth Advisory Board (YAB), the Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor as part of the Support for Young People review. The YAB have been provided with some questions prepared by the Chair in advance of the meeting.

The Chair invited members of the Committee to introduce themselves to representatives of the Youth Advisory Board, who were attending the meeting to provide feedback as part of the Support for Young People Review.

Experiences and Priorities of Young People

The Committee received evidence from five members of the Youth Advisory Board, who presented responses to eight questions concerning the experiences and priorities of young people in Stevenage. The main challenges identified included pressure relating to school and examinations, mental health, friendships, social media, money and future choices, together with difficulties in accessing employment, work experience and other opportunities. Members of the Youth Advisory Board reported that young people did not always feel listened to or taken seriously, particularly when raising concerns about their mental health or personal experiences. It was considered important that opportunities for young people to express their views should lead to demonstrable change and that young people should have a greater role in decisions concerning services and support. The Board also highlighted barriers to accessing opportunities, including transport, cost and a lack of awareness about where opportunities could be found. More work experience, volunteering, mentoring, affordable activities and safe spaces were identified as being beneficial.

Education, Employment and Preparation for Adulthood

The Board considered Stevenage to have a strong sense of community and good potential for young people, although there was a perceived lack of activities and opportunities specifically aimed at teenagers and young adults. Members discussed whether they expected to remain in Stevenage in the longer term, with views dependent upon future education, employment and career opportunities and whether the town continued to improve for young people. It was also felt that education could provide more preparation for practical aspects of adult life, including money management, careers, employment, relationships, mental health, managing stress and understanding local and wider issues.

Young People’s Voice and Participation

During discussion, members explored the extent to which young people felt able to speak openly about their experiences, particularly within schools. The Youth Advisory Board described concerns around judgement, trust and whether disclosures would be treated confidentially and seriously. The effectiveness of pastoral support was discussed, with the Board emphasising that the manner in which trusted adults presented themselves could affect whether young people felt comfortable approaching them. Members also discussed school councils and opportunities for young people to participate in decision-making. It was suggested that requiring students to speak publicly to their peers could discourage participation and that alternative or anonymous methods of expressing views and voting could enable a wider range of young people to take part.

Engagement, Activities and Opportunities

The Committee explored how the Council could engage with young people outside the school environment, particularly those who were not already involved in youth participation arrangements. The Youth Advisory Board thought that their peers in school would not engage with the traditional ways the Council uses social media, such as Facebook, but young people would be more inclined to engage with more informal engaging content on platforms like TikTok.

The Board also highlighted the importance of using relatable or inspirational individuals who young people would recognise and trust. Affordable access to sports and other activities was identified as another consideration, with the cost of some clubs potentially acting as a barrier. The use of existing facilities and venues for young people was also discussed, including concerns about the condition and safety of some spaces and the need to ensure that youth facilities were accessible and well promoted.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Mental health was a particularly strong theme throughout the evidence session. Members of the Youth Advisory Board considered that support and referral pathways existed but were not sufficiently well publicised, meaning that young people could be unaware of where to seek help. The Board referred to local organisations providing safe spaces and support but considered that greater publicity and clearer information about available services would help young people access assistance before problems became overwhelming. The Committee noted the potential for the Council to work with partners to consider how awareness and access to support could be improved.

Community Safety

Community safety and young people's perceptions of Stevenage were also discussed. The Board reported that some young people perceived parts of the town as unsafe, with concerns relating to antisocial behaviour, youth crime and uncertainty about what might happen when travelling around the town alone. One member expressed concern about feeling unable to visit the town centre alone and suggested that a greater visible police presence could help young people feel safer. It was also noted that perceptions of particular areas could be influenced by what young people heard from others.

The Committee was advised that the Council's Community Development Team had undertaken work with residents concerning perceptions of crime and antisocial behaviour, and an invitation was extended to members of the Youth Advisory Board to engage directly with the Community Safety Team and identify locations or circumstances where young people felt unsafe.

Key Findings and Areas for Further Consideration

In drawing the evidence together, the Committee identified a number of key themes for consideration as part of the review. These included improving access to mental health support and information; increasing access to employment, work experience, volunteering and careers advice; addressing barriers relating to transport and affordability; providing safe and accessible spaces and activities; improving opportunities for young people to influence decisions and ensuring that their views resulted in meaningful action; improving access to practical life skills and real-world experience; and addressing perceptions of safety. The Committee also noted the positive comments made about Stevenage's community and the potential for young people to remain in or return to the town where appropriate opportunities were available.

The Committee emphasised that the purpose of the engagement should not simply be to ask young people for their views, but to consider how those views could be translated into practical outcomes. Members noted the importance of empowering young people to speak for themselves and ensuring that their voices were heard and respected. The session was considered valuable in providing direct evidence from young people and in identifying areas where the review could explore potential improvements and partnership working.

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted the presentation and feedback provided by the Youth Advisory Board.