Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors McVittie and Preece.

Members to declare any interests in matters to be discussed at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider and comment on the SHAPE Survey 2023 results and Youth Summit feedback and consider measures to engage children and young people within the scrutiny process. 

The SHAPE Programme Manager presented the results of the consultation and engagement activities that had taken place over the last six months with children and young people across Sandwell.

The SHAPE Survey was an annual consultation mechanism for children and young people aged 8 – 18 years old. It allowed Council members, senior leaders, officers and partner agencies to understand the experiences, issues and views of young people in Sandwell.

The questions covered all the SHAPE themes of staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and economic wellbeing.

The survey had highlighted that although children at a primary age enjoyed their life as a child, they faced some increasing challenges as they moved into their teenage years.

The key findings included:-

·      The primary six identified issues facing young people were:

o   gangs and youth violence;

o   knife crime;

o   school/college work and exams;

o   drugs and substance abuse;

o   Post-16 Pathways;

o   and being bullied.

·      youth violence and knife crime was an issue that young people had highlighted previously and while it had not been such a prominent issue during the pandemic, it was again highlighted as an area of growing concern for young people;

·      young people felt the Council should focus on resolving issues such as littering and making Sandwell safer;

·      young people wished for there to be more education and job prospects within Sandwell, as better prospects locally would allow them to remain in Borough;

·      academic achievement and mental health and wellbeing continued to be impacted in a negative way;

·      young people felt that schools should do more to support their mental health and wellbeing;

·      there was a lack of education in schools on important life skills such as money management and taxes;

·      bullying had been highlighted as an issue throughout the report, and affecting all ages and young people felt that harsher sanctions should be in place for the perpetrators;

·      young people wanted to be able to voice their views and were keen to have someone to talk to about the issues they faced, however, they felt that adults did not listen;

·      although there are many diversionary activities in Sandwell, young people were interested in increasing and improving youth provision in parks, increasing sporting activities such as football and basketball and ensuring youth activities were located close to them.

The Create Your Future Youth Summit had taken place in early February, aimed at those young people who had struggled in mainstream education. The SHAPE Team, in partnership with Youth Services and West Midlands Police, had worked with the secondary schools in Sandwell to identify the needs of schools and young people. 

West Midlands Police had led on a discussion on the issues that young people were facing. Young people had indicated that access to drugs and drug misuse was an ongoing concern. In addition, young people had also highlighted their concerns around gang violence and poverty.

The Police had also delivered a Stop and Search workshop, which allowed the young people to debate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13/21