Agenda and draft minutes

Please let us know if you are planning to attend and have any access requirements or other needs which we need to take account of.

Venue: Microsoft Teams

Contact: Andrea Tomlinson  Democratic Services

Items
No. Item

YC.1

Declarations of Interest

Councillor Members of the Youth Cabinet are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any item on the Agenda and, if so to formally declare that interest.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

YC.2

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 65 KB

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 September are attached.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the last meeting held on 17 September 2020 were approved.

YC.3

Director for Education Interviews

Heather will report at the Meeting

Minutes:

Heather Walton reported that the Council were in the process of recruiting to the post of Director of Education and Skills which would be responsible for the education provided across the borough.

 

Heather explained that as well as a number of other exercises the candidates would need to complete they would be invited to attend interviews with a panel made up of young people.

 

It was proposed that these interviews would be held in a twilight session and would be supported by Adele or Heather.

 

The final Member interviews would be taking place on 10 December with a briefing meeting the afternoon before. It was therefore anticipated that the young person interviews would take place on the evening of 8 December.

 

Heather asked that those interested in sitting on the interview panel email her so that preparation could begin as soon as possible.

YC.4

Free School Meals

Elle and Emma will report at the meeting

Minutes:

It was explained that Ellie was going to introduce this item but had to work so had sent her apologies. She had sent a statement explaining the item.

 

Due to the Government decision not to support the provision of free school meals to young people during school holidays it was suggested that the Youth Cabinet may want to look at ways that they can work with local foodbanks to assist with this provision.

 

Emma explained that there had been the idea of a reverse advent calendar where a person would buy a small item every day that would go into a box which could then be donated.

 

Oliver explained that he was meeting with his Schools SLT the next week and would ask for support with this, maybe ask pupils to make donations that could then be given out.

 

Daniel explained that his school already made up hampers that were given out at Christmas and this was something that he was sure could be looked at.

 

Heather explained that there were a number of care leavers across the borough who may also benefit from receiving a package.

 

It was also explained that at the start of the first lockdown in March the Youth groups had been involved with a project called ‘Posting Positivity’ which had asked people to write a letter or draw a picture which were collected at Tesco and then delivered to people who were isolating and care homes so that these people didn’t feel so alone. Heather asked whether this was something that could be done again at Christmas time.

 

It was agreed:

 

1.   That the young people present ask their schools to take part in collecting items for food packages to be given to those families that receive free school meals.

 

2.   That Heather contact Tesco to see if they would allow another collection in their stores similar to the Posting Positivity exercise that had taken place earlier in the year.

 

YC.5

Make Your Mark

Emma and Elle will report at the Meeting

Minutes:

Emma explained that Make Your Mark is an opportunity for 11-18 year olds across the UK to have their say and begin their democratic journey by voting on the policies they want to introduce or change. This year, the UK Youth Parliament launches Make Your Mark on 1 November 2020 as part of UK Parliament Week. The ballot is open until 30 November.

 

The issues voted as most important will be the focus of the UK Youth Parliament’s 2021 campaigns. Members of Youth Parliament will campaign to influence the UK Parliament and their local representatives, ensuring that the views of young people are listened to by decision makers.

 

It was explained that schools would need to register to take part and those present were asked to contact the relevant teacher in their school to make sure that they were registered.

 

It was also suggested that young people share Make your Mark on social media to ensure that as many people as possible take part.

 

The ballot for Make your Mark can be found by clicking the following link.

 

https://www.ukparliamentweek.org/en/make-your-mark/

 

It was agreed:

 

That those present at the meeting would promote the Make Your Mark campaign and that those young people in attendance who were members of their schools’ Council’s would ask that the schools promote it also.

YC.6

Salford Anti-bullying social media campaign

Adele will report at the Meeting

Minutes:

It was reported that Salford Youth Council had asked Bury Youth Cabinet to join with them in a joint anti-bullying week taking place from 16 – 20 November.

 

Part of the campaign was asking people to create their own bit-moji which would then be shared on social media.

 

Those present were asked to think of ideas to promote the week, suggestions such as odd sock day or pyjama day in school and college.

YC.7

Posting Positivity Festive Edition

Adele will report at the meeting

Minutes:

It was explained that during the first national Covid lockdown which came into force in March 2020, several young people had contacted the local Tesco stores and asked them to help with a ’Posting Positivity’ campaign.

 

The campaign had allowed people who were alone or anxious or just wanted social activity to receive letters from young people during the lockdown.

 

The scheme had worked so well that it had been decided that something similar should be done over the festive period.

 

Those present were asked to think of a suitable name for the scheme. One idea had been ‘Posting Festivity’ but more were welcomed.

YC.8

The Big Debate

Should COVID restrictions be relaxed on Christmas day?

Minutes:

It was agreed that the debate would be focussed on whether schools and colleges should be part of another national lockdown or should remain open

 

Those present discussed the issues that they have faced in relation to the first lockdown. Issues relating to exams, prospects for both work and university and how they might be affected, mental health and suicide and support for the local economy.

 

Social distancing and safety measures within school settings were also discussed and the difference between how different schools were putting measures in place and the disparity between different schools and colleges.

 

The issue of undertaking and coping with remote working was also an area of concern. Access to hardware to enable online working and concerns with young people falling behind due to not having the right equipment or access to the internet.

 

A member of the Youth Cabinet reported that he had been in touch with James Daly MP to ask for some clarity around exams.

 

 Following the debate a vote was taken and:

 

It was agreed:

 

That schools and colleges should be included in future lockdowns.