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Agenda item

Questions from Members of the Youth Council

Minutes:

Question 1 Youth Councillor Zinari to Councillor Watts

Since the Employment Commission was launched 1 year ago, what has been the impact, particularly for young people in the borough?

 

Reply:

Thank you for your question.  I would also like to add my personal thanks to the Youth Councillors who have served for the last two years and congratulations to the newly elected Youth Councillors who he looked forward to working with.

 

Councillor Watts advised that he is proud that the Employment Commission has made real progress in reducing poverty and improving life chances for people in the borough.  Careers advice was being significantly improved by aligning schools and businesses.  City and Islington College are also leading on work to improve this and we think it will make a significant difference.  

Question 2 Youth Councillor Christiane to Councillor Caluori

How can schools work more closely with youth providers to promote the youth offer particularly to young people who are not currently accessing services outside of schools?

Reply:

 

Thank you for your question. There are a number of things that schools can do to promote information about Youth Services; Assemblies, letters to parents, websites and it would be good if champions in the youth hubs could visit schools to explain what it’s like.  There are lots of things they could do; we will listen to the ideas of the existing and new Youth Councillors and talk to you about what young people at school are really looking for.  I look forward to working with you.

Question 3 Youth Councillor Hiba to Councillor Burgess

Recently celebrities have helped raise awareness around mental health and over 86,855 people have pledged to end mental health stigma. What more can be done in Islington to reduce the stigma particularly amongst young people who may be experiencing mental health issues?

Reply:

 

Thank you for your question.  I agree that stigma is one of the main burdens for people suffering from mental health problems, especially for young people, and it can prevent them seeking help.   We are working to make mental health the same as physical health and are supporting Time to Change.  In Islington we have Youth Mental Health training and first aid training and help to dispel the myths and fears by providing people with the facts.  We run creative workshops in community settings.  We want all schools to teach healthful mind lessons to reduce the stigma.  We have Child and Adolescent Mental Health service at Lift and Platform and will work with young people to develop services more and to help with the website.  Thank you again for your question.

 

Question 4 Youth Councillor Ryan to Councillor Caluori

How can Islington Council work with key partners in business and education to create and promote high quality apprenticeships for 16-18 years olds in the borough?

 

Reply:

 

Thank you for your question which has hit the nail on the head; there is an array of different businesses in and around the borough that say they want to work with schools, but have found it difficult to join up and to find a way in.  We are trying to get more opportunities for businesses to engage and for more work place learning in companies we do work with.  We don’t want dull apprenticeships but challenging interesting opportunities. There is a charity in Kings Cross which has a list of people in business leadership – a panel of experts who go into schools to talk about what they do.  We need to increase the number of schools using the resource.  The Saturday Campaign encourages employers to create job opportunities for 15-17 year olds, to give them invaluable experience, help them build up their CVs and develop employability skills and we are trying to get more.  We are trying to get businesses to recruit people in line with the academic year.

 

Supplementary question:

I recently got an apprenticeship with the NHS and the school did not help, in fact they were against it.  What can the council do to change this attitude?

Reply:

This is a really interesting example of how the Youth Council adds value and is information that we will be able to use when we speak to head teachers when we come to stress test what schools say they’re doing.  Information like that is gratefully received.

 

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