WARRINGTON Youth Cabinet have outlined their pledges and priorities for the next six months.
They have been developed by all 25 members, in collaboration with some Senior Councillors and they believe they have created something that is ambitious yet achievable.
These are the things they will be focusing lots of their efforts on over the next 6 months, in working with local government, public sector and police whilst working on their own projects, incentives and schemes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly slowed the cabinet’s progress down, however the progress they have made so far is simply the start of a great journey the Youth Cabinet has embarked on.
They have already started working towards these pledges and priorities, and over the next 6 months they are going to work harder than ever to ensure we deliver on their goals for the benefit of young people all across Warrington.
Chief Youth Officer, Louis Groarkes said: “Although this is an ambitious strategy I strongly believe that it is achievable. It is only right that we set out our pledges and priorities so that the other young people within Warrington can see what we are working towards for them.
“Our work doesn’t stop at our pledges and priorities, we will listen to the young people of this town both as a collective and as individuals to ensure they feel and are represented, whilst creating a system that gives young people a way to channel issues and enthusiasm to make positive change.
“Within our pledges and priorities are some of the biggest issues and topics young people in Warrington felt were the most important in 2019, such as Climate Change. In 2019 I conducted a survey that 10,180 young people from across Warrington took part in, of these 2553 young people decided that the biggest issue was Climate Change and ensuring we have a clean environment that’s protected. The second biggest issue young people in Warrington felt was the most important in 2019 was knife crime, out of these 10,180 young people 1721 decided that knife crime was a big issue, knowing that, we decided to incorporate into our pledges and priorities “young people are safe” meaning we will work over the next 6 months to ensure issues such as knife crime and domestic abuse are highlighted and action is taken to decrease the amount of cases of both issues as well as many more things to make
young people safer in our town.
“I am proud to be a part of a organisation that listens to the people it is representing and projecting the voices of them to the decision makers.
“It means a lot that right from the start of this journey that the team and I have always put the views of young people in Warrington as a collective first.
“We will continue to work hard in developing a system that is worthy of representing the young people of Warrington.
Cllr. Matt Smith, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said “It’s great to see the Youth Cabinet’s priorities and pledges for the next six months, developed by young people and focussed on the areas that matter to them. The young people involved have vision and have set themselves ambitious goals. Despite the pandemic they have continued to demonstrate considerable determination to get things done. I look forward to seeing what they undertake in the next six months, working in collaboration, to progress towards
these goals.”
