Helping our children and young people to fulfil their potential
We have unveiled a new-look plan for how we will help children and young people enjoy the best start in life.
What does the plan include?
The plan was developed with the voice of children at its heart and reflects a wide range of work to enable children and young people to be safe, happy and supported to fulfil their potential.
It was produced by the Children and Young People Partnership, which comprises several organisations in Kirklees – including from the voluntary and community sector – who provide learning, health and social care.
The plan outlines the partnership’s priorities and will be discussed at a meeting of the Kirklees Cabinet on July 13th.
Councillor Viv Kendrick, Cabinet member for Children, said:
“We are ambitious for children and young people across Kirklees and passionate about giving them the best possible support. The council’s commitment is shared by other local agencies and, together, we make a vital difference in improving lives.
We want children and young people to have positive experiences in a loving family and access to the help they need, when they need it. This updated plan means we have one place where the work we are doing, and the outcomes we aim to achieve, are set out very clearly.”
Councillor Carole Pattison, Cabinet member for Learning, Aspiration and Communities, said:
“The priorities are designed to support good outcomes for all of our children. They will help to reduce inequality and enhance life chances, all the way from birth through to adulthood.
Our aim is to protect young people from harm whilst also helping them to aspire and achieve. The plan doesn’t just reflect the views of professionals – we spent a lot of time talking to young people themselves so that their experiences shaped our work and the voice of the child was truly heard.”
Insight from children and young people was captured through school councils, focus groups, via specific projects and by running the annual health survey of school pupils in Year 9.
The partnership already has a plan in place with six areas of focus which are well underway. These are emotional health and resilience; better outcomes for children in care; closing the gap in educational attainment; reducing vulnerability to exploitation; food and physical activity; and early support in communities
The updated version lays out the vision and aims until 2023, with three new priorities added: tackling the effects of child poverty; inclusion and better outcomes for LGBT+ young people; and developing the local youth offer.