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Link to file	Overview of the document
A Safer East Riding: It’s Time to Listen to Young People. A question breakdown of the young people’s Violence Against Women and Girls Survey 2024	The survey aimed to understand the safety of young people in the East Riding, with a focus on violence against women and girls. Most respondents feel safe during the day, with the majority of answers leaning towards “very safe.” However, the sentiment changes drastically at night, with the majority feeling unsafe. This shift in feelings of safety could be due to factors like less visibility, fewer people around, and the presence of alcohol and drugs in the evening. The main threats to young people in the area are drug-related, with the majority of respondents mentioning drugs as a concern. Other societal problems, such as the behaviour of others, were also highlighted. The most common measures taken by young people to feel safer include walking quickly, avoiding certain areas, and sending “text me when home” messages. These measures indicate that there isn’t a single surefire way to prevent incidents. Over 50% of respondents who experienced harassment, abuse, or violence stated that no one intervened in the incident. This suggests a need for further bystander training in the community.
Boys and young men’s mental health consultation (All boys school consultation 2024)	A consultation on boys and young men’s mental health was conducted in an all-boys school, involving 59 participants aged 13-15. The boys shared their perceptions, the factors affecting their mental health, and their coping mechanisms. They also provided suggestions for improving mental health support. The boys’ understanding of mental health varied, with many associating it with changes in behaviour, physical health, and emotional wellbeing. Some admitted to knowing very little about it, while others recognised its importance to overall wellbeing. Stress, relationships, family issues, and significant life events were frequently mentioned as factors that could impact their mental health. Other influences included bullying, social media, and substance addiction. Common strategies for managing mental health included talking to someone, engaging in hobbies, playing sports, and socialising. Listening to music and sleeping were also popular methods. When feeling down, many boys preferred to talk to someone, isolate themselves, or engage in activities they enjoy. Playing video games and listening to music were also common responses. Most boys felt uncomfortable sharing their emotions due to stigma, fear of being made fun of, and societal expectations of men needing to be strong. Some noted that comfort levels varied depending on the person. Support from family and friends was crucial for many boys, although some felt unsupported or unsure where to seek help. School resources and emotional intelligence upbringing were also mentioned. A significant number of boys acknowledged the stigma surrounding boys and young men’s mental health. The boys suggested various improvements, including changing exam approaches, normalising discussions about mental health, organising more talks and events, and increasing the visibility of mental health resources.
East Riding Anti-bullying strategy 2024	The East Riding Anti-Bullying Strategy 2024 aims to create a safer environment for young people by tackling bullying through a collaborative approach involving various stakeholders. This strategy emphasises the importance of listening to children’s voices, providing appropriate training and resources, and implementing proactive and restorative approaches to address bullying. The strategy aims to ensure children and young people in East Riding live free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination through a collaborative effort involving multiple organisations and stakeholders. Children perceived as ‘different’ are at higher risk of being bullied, including those with SEND, learning difficulties, different social choices, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Bullying can be physical, verbal, sexual, emotional/indirect, cyber/online, or prejudicial, each with distinct characteristics and impacts. Young people in East Riding emphasised the importance of non-sanction-based approaches, more support and training for staff, and providing safe spaces and peer support to tackle bullying effectively. To achieve the strategy’s goals, there is a need for comprehensive training and support for staff across all youth settings, focusing on proactive and restorative approaches. The strategy calls for the involvement of various stakeholders, including young people, parents, professionals, and organisations, to ensure its successful implementation and accountability.
East Riding Safeguarding Children Partnership Partner and Relevant Agency Meeting (PRAM)	The document outlines the activities and priorities of the East Riding Youth Council and the involvement of young people in various initiatives, including safeguarding efforts, mental health, and climate change. Youth Council Activities: Young people from East Riding and neighbouring areas meet every three months to discuss youth voice and influence work, coordinating with local leaders and Members of Youth Parliament. The UK Youth Parliament allows young people to represent their constituencies, focusing on the top two elected Make Your Mark priorities and their individual manifestos, including participation in national and regional activities. Key priorities include mental health, LGBTQ+ issues, domestic abuse, violence against women and girls, anti-bullying strategies, climate change, and app development. Make Your Mark results show Health & Wellbeing as the top priority both locally and nationally, followed by Crime & Safety, Culture, Media & Sport, and Jobs, Economy & Benefits.
East Riding Youth Council and Young Healthy Minds website consultation	The East Riding Youth Council and Young Healthy Minds website consultation suggests adding an interactive “how are you feeling” meter with coping strategies like colouring sheets and breathing techniques. The content should be more engaging with podcasts, games, music playlists, and quizzes. The website needs more colour and should have separate pages for topics such as bullying and substance misuse.
Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships – (LSCPs)Webinar with Young Scrutineers – Notes and highlights (Jan 31st 2024)	LSCPs are local partnerships aimed at promoting the safety of young people through different strategies and shared legal obligations. They emphasised the importance of health, education, and systemic levels in safeguarding efforts. Participants discussed the challenges in safeguarding practices, such as practitioners underestimating young people, stigma associated with children in care, and the need for more comfortable and inclusive environments for young people. The importance of continuous involvement of young people in LSCPs was highlighted including gradual involvement, training, and having young advocates who can bridge the gap between young people and adult professionals. Participants found it challenging to assess the success of LSCPs due to dynamic factors. They acknowledged effective areas such as rapid response to emergencies and the role of young people in identifying needs, but also pointed out issues like miscommunication and lack of attention to less severe problems like bullying. Suggestions for improving LSCP success included better communication, transparency, and promotion of safeguarding practices. Participants also emphasised the need for holding stakeholders accountable and ensuring meaningful involvement of young people in decision-making processes.
Lollipop consultation with young people at Lollipop (LGBTQIA+)	This document discusses perspectives and experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community. It highlights the positive aspects of being part of the community, such as the pride in one’s identity, but also points out challenges like bullying, hate crimes, and a lack of understanding from schools. It emphasises the importance of respect, asking questions, and not making assumptions. Common misconceptions include stereotypes about sexuality and gender, and the belief that all gay people behave or look a certain way.
Residential Youth Con ‘24 – MYM topics discussion	Make Your Mark (MYM) is a Nationwide campaign that gathers information on what is important to the youth of the UK. The ten issues are decided by members of the UK Youth Parliament. An overview of the Residential Youth Con ’24 is provided, focusing on health and wellbeing, and crime and safety as key topics of discussion. It highlights various issues and actions being taken in different regions. Health and wellbeing were prioritised in the MYM poll due to issues like self-consciousness, isolation, bullying, school impact, vaping, and stress among children and young people. There are significant challenges in accessing mental health services, including long waitlists for CAMHS and other treatments, a lack of GP surgeries, and insufficient doctors and nurses. Hull is addressing food poverty, mental health resources, sexual health, and training youth councillors as peer mentors, along with creating educational content about school meals. Crime and safety were second in the MYM poll due to fears of attack, witnessing crimes, gang involvement, and various forms of discrimination and violence. The responsibility to address these issues lies with police, local authorities, violence reduction teams, and the community.