These pages seek to highlight the views of children and young people on many aspects that affect their lives. They have been summarised to fit to the different components of the conditions of living wheel, as also seen on the JSNA homepage.

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Title	Overview
Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships – (LSCPs)Webinar with Young Scrutineers – Notes and highlights (Jan 31st 2024)	Participants described LSCPs as 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.
Survey Results for a LOG ON MOVE ON App	The survey results indicate that over half of young people were not offered apprenticeships as an alternative to A-levels in year 11, and many felt uninformed about apprenticeship and alternative career routes. Additionally, the majority did not know where to find local apprenticeship options, and did not see apprenticeships as an equal alternative to university. About a third agreed that education providers could do more to promote alternatives to formal education, and felt an app for local job opportunities would be beneficial. From the organisations’ perspective, three-quarters felt their apprenticeships did not reach the intended audience, and half believed an app could benefit their business.
Rural issues meeting (23 January 2023)	The meeting highlighted the lack of infrastructure such as schools and doctors despite new housing developments, insufficient bins leading to litter and dog fouling problems, expensive and limited bus services, worsening potholes, and dangerous trees near roads. It was noted that there was a need for more youth clubs, increased rural policing, and the development of more solar and wind farms and recycling areas.
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.
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.
Lollipop consultation – funding for future of group	The Lollipop Group aims to establish itself as an independent charity led by young people with adult support, focusing on creative arts and addressing under-representation in media. Members feel underrepresented and misrepresented in arts and culture, calling for accurate and positive portrayals, more LGBTQ+ actors, and community input on representation.
Environment Consultation Tree	Suggestions were given about how we can be more environmentally friendly.
Volunteen Voice: end of project report Year 3 (1st Jun – 30th Jun 2024)	The Volunteen Voice project, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, has made significant strides in youth engagement in East Riding. The project has focused on various issues like mental health, climate change, and youth safety, involving thousands of young people in meaningful activities and decision-making processes. Volunteen Voice helps young people build confidence, improve communication skills, and gain valuable experience for their CVs, which also benefits their mental and physical health depending on the projects they participate in. ERVAS collaborates with various organisations like the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and NHS to address issues such as mental health, employment, and climate change, ensuring young people’s voices are heard in shaping services and strategies. Volunteen Voice has been actively working on improving young people’s mental health through workshops, surveys, and partnerships with health organisations, aiming to create better support systems. Volunteen Voice celebrated its first awards evening, recognizing young people’s contributions to various projects and highlighted the positive impact of youth participation in community initiatives.
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.
Boys and young men’s mental health consultation (All boys school consultation)	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.
Boys and Young Men’s Mental Health Survey (June 2024)	The Boys and Young Men’s Mental Health Survey highlights the need for more resources and awareness about mental health issues among boys and young men. It identifies gaps in existing support systems and provides insights from young people on their experiences and needs. There is a lack of resources specifically aimed at boys and young men’s mental health outside of schools, with ongoing discussions to develop more support. Participants shared various coping mechanisms for dealing with overwhelming emotions, including listening to music, walking, and talking to someone. Young people expressed a need for more education and information about boys and young men’s mental health and better promotion of available 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.
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.
Hull & East Riding Children and Young People’s Access to Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Support-Parent and carer survey	Parent carer survey: Parents and carers reported negative experiences with accessing emotional wellbeing and mental health services for their children, including lack of communication, long waiting lists, and difficulty getting support. Suggestions for easy access to emotional wellbeing and mental health support include clear information on available services, more access to support in schools, and multiple methods of referral and seeking access. Children and Young People’s survey: Children and young people reported both positive and negative experiences with accessing emotional wellbeing and mental health services, with some reporting lack of communication and difficulty getting support.
Young Carers, Children in Care and Care Leavers: key messages from young people attending Young Carers Support Group, Children in Care Council and Care Leavers Forum	Young Carers’ Needs: Young carers expressed the need for teachers and schools to recognise their unique situations and provide understanding, extra academic support, mental health respite sessions, help with scheduling, transport support, and emotional and mental health assistance. They also seek clarity on what happens when they turn 18 and are no longer considered young carers. Children in Care and Care Leavers’ Concerns: Children in care and care leavers want honesty, autonomy, and timely communication from their workers. They desire stronger relationships with their workers, reduced stigma, streamlined processes to avoid missing out on opportunities, and better mental health support in schools. They also need clearer information about their healthcare providers and safer accommodation options. Mental Health and Emotional Support: Both young carers and children in care emphasise the importance of mental health support. Young carers request fun, respite sessions and emotional support, while children in care seek mental health workers in schools and better-trained foster carers to handle mental health issues.
Activity	CORE CAMHS – Clear Project: The ICB tasked the Trust to participate in a 26-week pilot program for CORE CAMHS, involving 15 young people who shared their experiences and provided 11 recommendations. An expert by experience was appointed to help embed these recommendations. New Children’s and Adult Learning Disability Website: Six focus groups across Hull and East Riding contributed to the development of a new website. Three young people were paid “experts by experiences” throughout the project, and staff were also invited to share their ideas. Humber Youth Social Media and Resources: HYAG members expressed a desire for a youth-led approach to the Humber Youth Instagram and will have “takeover weeks” starting September 2024. They also co-produced inclusive resources to help young people recognize unhealthy relationships, which were shared in the community.
Youth Voice Workshop: mental health and emotional wellbeing, Goole (17th September 2024)	Comments included the need for more affordable activities, reduced travel costs, better SEND support, crisis support, inclusion for LGBTQ+ youth, quiet spaces, and consistent, real-person mental health conversations. They also highlighted the need for more well-being workers, drop-in services, and shorter waiting times for neurodiversity diagnoses.
Wishboards of young people, families and staff (Healthwatch)	The document outlines various feedback and wish lists from young people, families, and staff regarding health and community services. Young People’s Wishboards: Young people express the need for better mental health support, clear communication from healthcare providers, confidentiality, and improved waiting areas. They also emphasise the importance of punctuality, inclusivity, and building trust with consistent staff. Family Wishboards: Families seek better support for sleep issues, easier access to health-related EHCPs, SEN-friendly services, and clear communication about direct payments. They also request more inclusive activities, coordinated support, improved administrative processes, and equitable healthcare services. Staff Wishboards: Staff highlight the need for better communication, reduced caseloads, and improved interagency relationships. They also emphasise the importance of consistent GP appointment booking, follow-up with discharged patients, and more efficient clinic contact methods.