York Council Launches Strategy to Support Young People’s Well Being

Council unveils youth strategy with £40k yearly funding to help young people, focusing on safe spaces and overall support.

York Council Launches Strategy to Support Young People’s Well Being
York Council Launches Strategy to Support Young People’s Well Being

York Council did a youth survey. Young people felt they didn’t belong in the city. Transport was not helpful for them, and they worried about the future and their appearance.

The council will use a youth strategy, providing safe places and support. The strategy has £40,000 yearly funding, for three years.

A partnership will link youth to services and should attract funds for youth support. The strategy also lets youth shape it; “Give it a go week” and “Cultural passports” are suggestions. The strategy targets 34,612 local kids, 14,673 of them aged 11 to 17.

The survey found 86% have someone to talk to, and 66% felt their area was good for growing up. Sadly, 25% self-harmed in the last year, and almost half of those asked for no help. 71% received messages from strangers online, and a quarter were asked to do things online.

16% of these young people gambled, and one in four stole to gamble. A quarter were bullied for their looks, and a fifth of bullied kids got no help. 25% reported vaping or e-cigarette use, and there were 1.7 teen pregnancies per 1,000 girls.

Youth Council members helped create the strategy. They said youth felt left out often and mentioned transport as a problem. Young people reported facing stigma in York also. Spending on youth services fell 73% since 2010, according to YMCA data.

Barnardo’s supports the council’s youth plan, and Marcel Varney said it boosts well-being. More work is needed for youth mental health though; this helps prevent crisis situations. Barnardo’s notes challenges facing young people, citing coronavirus, costs, and online dangers. Mental health is a concern, and a poll found teens feel hopeless about their futures.

Peter Roderick said the survey is important and reflects national trends. Mental health is declining in many areas. The youth plan supports young people, providing safe spaces and skilled people. The Local Youth Partnership will help by bringing groups together for support.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24945659.york-council-strategy-help-young-people/?ref=rss
Disclaimer: The images on this site are for info only and follow fair use. We get them from public sources and try to stick to official ones. If you have any concerns, please reach out to us.
Fact-Checking Policy: We use reliable sources and check info before posting. Mistakes can happen, so if you spot one, please let us know, and we’ll fix it ASAP.

Local news team dedicated to accurate crime and community reporting within the Liverpool area. Email: dodoxler+pool@gmail.com