The welfare of Devon’s children is ‘everyone’s business’ and our elected councillors should be at the heart of a new county-wide network of Child Friendly Devon Ambassadors.
And, as community leaders and public figures, they should use their positions and influence to champion our children at every opportunity and enlist more Ambassadors within the community.
It’s one of a series of recommendations in a report by our cross-party Child Friendly Devon Task Group to be considered at Cabinet this Wednesday. .
A key part of our Strategic Plan 2021-2025 is a commitment to ensure that all children and young people have the best possible start in life, good physical and mental health, and there is better access to employment and learning.
The report follows our Children’s Scrutiny Committee Task Group inviting representatives from four local authorities, youth services, voluntary groups, businesses, and UNICEF to share their experiences with us to help Devon become the best place to grow up.
We have also formed a partnership with Leeds City Council to help point the way.
Just over a decade ago, Leeds had an Inadequate OFSTED ranking – now they are an ‘outstanding’ council. They changed their approach and began putting children at the centre of everything they do.
And if we do the same it will have long-term and wide-ranging benefits.
For instance, by helping families and providing the right support at the right time, Devon can reduce the number of children ending up needing safeguarding interventions and work differently providing early help and support to enable children to remain in their families and be safely cared for.
By prioritising children’s health, there will be a reduction in the long-term demand on the NHS; and stronger child friendly communities and support for children and families will help schools to focus more on learning.
Businesses also have a part to play – child friendly local businesses will create opportunities for young people and reduce the need for young people to feel they have to move out of Devon to have opportunities.
Councillor Rob Hannaford. The Chair of the Children’s Scrutiny Committee said:
“It’s vital that all children, regardless of background, have an equal opportunity to reach their potential. And to do that, we need to do more tackle discrimination, poverty and disadvantage and we need to increase social mobility. We must create the environment where there are more opportunities to succeed, and where our young people can afford to live here and want to stay in Devon.
“What we need to do goes beyond supporting families, safeguarding, working with schools, training, and creating jobs – we need to create a very different environment where children and young people are our priority, where they are actively considered not just in everything we do as a council, but also by communities, our partners, and businesses. We have to listen to them.”
Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, DCC’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Schools said:
“A Child Friendly Devon means ensuring that the voice of the child is part of everything we do.
“For us, as a local authority, it means that in every decision we make we consider the impact on children, young people and families.
“The success of Leeds’ approach is plain to see, and their ambassadors show how volunteers including local people, local businesses and local voluntary groups can help provide opportunities for children and young people.
“And for Devon it means we all need to listen to their voices, needs and priorities to ensure they are an integral part of decision making, investments, policies, programmes, actions and services.
“The welfare and best interests of our children is everyone’s business.”
