Children and young people were asked in a recent survey, what they liked about growing up in Westmorland and Furness and what could be better for them.
More than 1,100 responses were received through surveys, workshops and pop-up events. The insights were brought together, shaped into 13 key themes and discussed at the Discovery Day. Key themes ranged from education and learning to having a voice, feeling safe, and the environment and climate.
Attendees were invited to vote on the three key priorities that will shape the work moving forward which are:
- Having a voice
- Education and Learning
- Child friendly activities and services
Alongside this, there is also a council priority around child friendly leadership, culture and communication.
Young people who completed the survey shared a range of powerful and insightful views, including:
“Empty shops should be used for activities and there should be more things to do instead of things to buy”.
“I like having many green areas you can explore for ages. I don’t like how there isn’t many street lights and I don’t feel very safe at night as teenagers or older people hang out in dark alleyways”.
“Get rid of vape shops so more people don’t get addicted”.
Building on the survey findings, the next stage of the Child Friendly initiative will involve co-creating action plans with children and young people to address the top priorities.
Councillor Janet Battye, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Westmorland and Furness Council said: “Talking and listening to our children and young people is essential if we are to understand what it is truly like to live and grow up here. We want them to feel part of their communities and recognised as individuals with their own voices. By involving them in decisions and listening to their experiences and ideas, we can make meaningful improvements together. I look forward to seeing the positive changes we can achieve.”
