Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Post

In 2023, the European Commission launched the #EUChildParticipation Platform as a safe space for children and teenagers to have their say on laws and policies that concern them. 🔍 The EU Children's Participation Platform published restuls of the survey into what makes children and teenagers feel safe across Europe and it is an interesting read for professionals those who work with children and youth as a stakeholder group in local, regional or national contexts. 🔑 **Key Findings:** Who should help children? 63% prefer to talk to someone in person (rather than going online). 74% would first go to family or relatives and 68% to friends. What children need to feel safer in different places At school: Better hygiene and putting a stop to bullying. At home: Having enough money to live on. And when home is not safe, children need a safe space to go to. After school: More places and activities to meet socially, with adult’s support. In public places: Safer playgrounds and parks and more street lighting. Online: More information and training for adults and children on staying safe online. 💡 **Why It Matters:** The safety and well-being of our youth are paramount. By understanding their perspectives and addressing their needs, we can create inclusive and supportive public spaces and meeting places for all and for all different age groups. 🔗 Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gSkYKNWc #Europeyouth #future #planning #YouthSafety #CommunityEngagement #PolicyImpact #EUChildrensPlatform

January 23, 2024, at the LA County Supervisors meeting, they voted 5-0 to go ahead with the building of a low-income housing project of over 300 apartments in the center of Chinatown, Los Angeles. The Request for Proposal is called, "New High Village," I have been volunteering/working on this project for 3 years with my team from the Chinatown Community. See https://lnkd.in/gSqFyGx We will help with input on all aspects of the project including architecture. In addition to the housing aspect, we envision including a Creative Center a campus-like environment - welcoming, user-friendly, and a place for learning, interaction, celebration, and relaxation in a natural setting. The Creative Center aims to form partnerships with universities, companies, and industry leaders. It will offer classes, workshops, foreign film screenings, documentaries, and a workshop where people can fix and create things. Our goal is for the art exhibition area, lecture hall, and movement space to be able to transform into one large area for events and celebrations for large groups. It could serve all of Los Angeles making it another reason to visit Chinatown. It is no secret that marginalized communities often struggle to break into mainstream jobs due to a lack of opportunities in industries that value creativity. While we are just as creative as anyone else, we do not always have the same access to education or training that would open doors for us in these fields. In Los Angeles - a city built on creativity - it will be incredible if we create a space where individuals from our community can reach their full potential and represent us in key industries within the city.

👏Our £3.4m Stronger Futures programme will more than treble the number of young people supported with opportunities after school and at weekends, when evidence shows they are more vulnerable to violence. 💡Evidence shows that violence affecting young people is most likely between 3pm and 10pm on a school day, and using these hours well is critical to diverting young people away from risk of exploitation. Our investment builds on the current success of Stronger Futures which has recorded: ✅Nearly 1900 young people from 14 organisations having reported improved positive peer relationships ✅More than 1500 young people with improved mental health and wellbeing ✅Nearly 400 young people with improved employment prospects ➡️Find out more: https://bit.ly/3EDwWIo 📺 Watch BBC London coverage of our visit with Mayor of London to Business Launchpad at Tooting Works last week.

Check out BCBWP's latest blog page about the impacts of loneliness and social isolation, as well as how to empower individuals to recognize and address these feelings, fostering a community of support and understanding. Link to the blog here: https://lnkd.in/gBgktVjp

In our draft Community and Corporate Plan 2023-2043, we want to know your thoughts on a range of priorities. Do you agree or disagree that we should: 🔹 Ensure our town centres are safe and welcoming for all. 🔹 Keep children safe in their communities and provide safe environments for our young people to thrive in. 🔹 Ensure early intervention is effective and targeted. 🔹 Provide the best care and support available so that residents are empowered to achieve what matters most to them. 🔹 Provide clear signposting for those needing our help. 🔹 Support and encourage community action. 🔹 Improve wellbeing and reduce social isolation. Leave a thumbs up if you agree or a lightbulb if you disagree. Complete this consultation in full on our website - https://lnkd.in/e6TpMTtM

Have you been wondering what Peer Support Groups from the Youth Worker Well-Being Project are all about? Let one of the group facilitators Jean Fabrice Ndzana, M.A., Ed.S, tell you a little bit about it. "There are few spaces where youth workers can come together to support each other and share experiences, challenges and success. I am excited to be able to play a role in this new initiative and respond to that need." If you are a youth worker looking for a safe space to connect with others living your experiences, check out our website for more information about Peer Support Groups and times you can drop in: https://loom.ly/EprlEcw

It can be difficult knowing how to best support young people with so many crises around the world and in our communities. Here is an article from Learning for Justice that may help. https://lnkd.in/gzrbcEfh

How can the next government improve young people’s mental health? The The McPin Foundation have collaborated with young people with lived experience of mental health issues to create 10 research-informed asks for the new government. They highlight crucial changes needed to support youth mental health, based on evidence from various research projects. 👉 Involvement of Young People: Research must include young people and national policies should be influenced by them. 👉 Evidence-Based Changes: Specific changes are needed to address inadequacies in the youth mental health system. 👉 Collaboration: Strong partnerships with universities and researchers are essential for meaningful outcomes. #children #youngpeople #MentalHealth #mentalwellbeing #government #politics #electionresults #generalelection #politicsuk #youthparticipation #YouthVoice #Research #PolicyChange #everychildhood

And that’s a wrap! Today, we held a successful round table discussion addressing the challenges faced by men of African descent in Western Australia, covering topics from mental health and legal issues to housing, employment, education, community safety, and social isolation. Many issues were discussed, and, most importantly, numerous solutions were proposed. One thing is clear: we're moving onward and upward from here.