Agenda item

Andrew Spears, Youth Council Chairman and Laila Khan, Youth Council Vice-Chairman addressed the Board. The Board viewed the short film that Bromley Youth Council (BYC) had produced for the launch. The film can be viewed at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq31G4F3MLE.

Mental Health was identified as the key priority issue at the Youth Council’s manifesto event in March 2013 and the Board was provided with a summary and an update on the BYC’s campaign on mental health. The campaign aimed to break the silence amongst young people about mental health issues and to raise awareness amongst young people of the services available to offer support.

Each year the Youth Council hosted a youth manifesto event, to which all borough secondary schools and colleges were invited to send representation. It is planned, delivered and evaluated by youth councillors and supported by youth support work programme staff. Key decision makers in the borough, including elected Members, officers and service managers were invited as guests, to listen to the views and concerns and answer questions from young people either living, being educated or growing up in Bromley. The outcomes from this event contributed to and completed the BYC Manifesto for the forthcoming year.

At the manifesto event in March 2013, 81 young people from 15 schools and colleges identified their priority issues as a mandate for the Youth Council. Mental health was identified as the key issue. BYC applied and were awarded funding to support this campaign from Bromley Public Health and thanked Dr Ade Fowler, Dr Jenny Selway and Bromley Y for the support they have given to the campaign.

The official launch of the campaign was 10^th October, ‘World Mental Health Day’. BYC ran a stall and a ‘green’ ribbon campaign and alongside this they launched their leaflet and film. The Youth Council had discussions with 628 young people and 239 adults about mental health and wellbeing and distributed over 1000 green ribbons. 

The Board was able to consider the mid-term progress report and were informed that an End of Year Report looking at the impact of the campaign and reporting individual and group outcomes and achievements would be available from March 2014.

The Chairman thanked the representatives for the “powerful” film and expressed surprise that mental health was such an issue for young people. 

The Board was informed that the information produced by BYC had been distributed to GP’s in key areas. They recognised that the film and leaflet could not reach all young people.

Members requested copies of the information collated as a result of sending out questionnaires during the consultation process.  These findings had been presented at the “Bromley Crime Summit” held on 28^th September 2013.

BYC Members had also worked with Sue Southon to increase volunteering amongst young people. The youth workers were keen to get involved with community schemes and welcomed suggestions by Members.

One Member of the Board noted that in the past the statistics for crimes against the under 16’s were not reported and hoped this had changed.  In response the Board was informed the Chairman of the Youth Council had been invited by the Borough Commander, Steph Roberts to meet to discuss youth issues.

The Chairman thanked the representatives and felt it was encouraging to see such confident and compassionate youth in the Borough.

RESOLVED that the report and presentations are noted.