Agenda item

Ms Danie Gibbs (LBB Youth Engagement Co-ordinator) attended the meeting along with Jacob Eyers (BYC Chairman) to update the Committee and answer questions pertaining to the new BYC  (Bromley Youth Council) Strategy. The Chairman stated that the report was excellent.

Members were briefed that at the BYC ‘Your Choice’ Youth Conferencethat had taken place in December 2019, it had been determined that the BYC primary campaign for the following year would be ”Putting An End To Knife Crime” and that the secondary campaign would be “Youth Mental Health”.  

As a result of their research, BYC had realised that there needed to be more joined up strategic work across services to eradicate and reduce knife crime and youth violence within Bromley.

The Chairman referenced section 4.1 of the Campaign Progress Report which noted the fact that young people felt that there was a gap in mental health services and an inconsistent approach. He asked if the BYC Chairman could dig deeper into this matter and update the Committee on where the gaps existed. The BYC Chairman responded and explained that BYC were working on mapping services for young people across the borough. The question that needed to be clarified was if there were really any gaps in services or was it the case that young people were not aware of services that currently existed. A further update regarding this would be provided at the PP&E PDS meeting in March 2021.   

It was noted that Instagram had blocked posts relating to domestic abuse and a discussion took place regarding this.

A Member referred to section 3.1 of the report where it was stated that young people would like to see knife crime awareness in schools, along with more information and access to services working to prevent and reduce knife crime. She asked why information relating to linked services such as those relating to drugs, gangs, public safety and exploitation were not referenced. The BYC Chairman answered that there was always a danger that campaigns could get too big, and so it was decided that the focus should be made directly on knife crime. 

A Member referred to the various speakers that had addressed BYC with respect to Knife Crime, and if there were any plans to get such speakers into local schools? The BYC Chairman stated that plans had made to implement this but had not taken place as yet because of the Covid Pandemic; plans were being made for this to take place in a Covid secure way going forward. Similarly, it was also planned that talks would take place (regulations permitting) in school assemblies regarding mental health issues and domestic violence. This would be undertaken by the BYC representatives themselves. It was mentioned that BYC representatives had received some training on these issues from Bromley and Croydon Women’s Aid.

Members noted the overall positive feedback that was received concerning the various presentations and talks that had taken place at the Youth Conference. There was a particular presentation that was not so well received and a Member asked how the attendees at this particular workshop could benefit if the feedback was rated as poor. The BYC Chairman responded that in some cases attendees would comprise vulnerable young people who could be involved in knife crime, and in certain cases may not engage. It was true that speakers were required who were able to engage with young people. The comment was made that all speakers would come in second place when compared to Margaret Mizen from the Mizen Foundation.

The Chairman was pleased to inform the Committee that the former BYC Chairman, (Emily Warnham) was now studying at Oxford University, and the Committee wished her well and passed on their congratulations.

The Chairman thanked Danie Gibbs and the BYC Chairman for attending the meeting and for their presentation and requested that the BYC Chairman pass his appreciation and thanks to the rest of the BYC Team. The BYC Chairman responded that he was looking forward to returning in March 2021 with a further update concerning progress made in developing the BYC campaigns. 

RESOLVED that the update concerning the Bromley Youth Council campaigns be noted and that a further update be provided in March 2021; the update to include a list from BYC concerning where gaps existed in mental health services for young people.