Agenda and draft minutes

Adele Crowshaw submitted her apologies

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

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting

The Minutes of the last meeting held on 9 December 2025 are attached.

It was agreed:

that subject to the inclusion of Jen Mills and Ted as being in attendance and the removal of Heather Walton that the Minutes of the last meeting be approved as a correct record.

Chief Inspector Michael Barton from GMP attending the meeting to give an update on the work of the Police since the last meeting and talk about any upcoming events or initiatives.

Chief Inspector Barton reported that there had been a number of Holocaust Memorial events that had taken place across the borough with one in the Bury Police Headquarters earlier in the week and one planned for Thursday at the Town Hall.

The Hate Crime Awareness Week was due to start on 2 Feb 26 with events planned across different locations. A Hate Crime Ambassadors initiative was due to be launched to coincide with this and this would see a number of different partners, including The Rock security team, The Millgate security team and Street Wardens trained to be Hate Crime Ambassadors. They will be supporting issues raised relating to ASB and Hate Crime and will be trained around reporting incidents and supporting victims of hate crime and ASB.

Bury Youth Service are organising a conference for young people at The Elizabethan Suite, Bury Town Hall on Friday 13th February 9am-3pm.

The event is for any young person aged 14-18 who have strong feelings about the police or who have previously had police involvement in their lives but it is open to anyone. There will be representatives from GMP to answer questions and hear young people’s thoughts.

Bury Youth Service are running the event so as well as police there will be qualified youth workers to support young people throughout the event. Young people will be able to talk about:

-What issues matter most to young people?

-Do young people feel safe?

-How do young people view the police?

-Do you know what to do if someone was stabbed?

-Would you like more opportunities to shape the work the police do in Bury?

Following this event any young people who are interested can continue to meet (outside of school/college hours) with Bury GMP to continue working together to shape policing in Bury by joining Bury Youth Cabinet.

Each school and college is invited to send 4 pupils aged 14-18 but it was also explained that members of the Youth Cabinet would be invited to attend as well as the school attendees.

Heather advised that outside of the conference she would be happy to arrange a ‘stop the bleed’ session for any young person interested in what to do in incidents of injury causing bleeding. These would be provided at an informal cabinet meeting.

It was agreed:

1.    That Chief Inspector Barton be thanked for his update

2.    That a stop the bleed session be arranged to be held at a future meeting of informal cabinet.

Jon Hobday, Director of Public Health attended the meeting to answer questions and update on health related issues.

Jon referred to the issue of young people vaping being raised on numerous occasions at different forums and meetings and addiction to vaping and what can be done to support those addicted to stop.

Jon explained that Early Break was a local service that offered support around substance misuse and other things. If a young person was concerned about an addiction including vaping, they could self refer to the service who offer advice, support and education.

Jon also reported that Healthwatch were establishing a Youthwatch programme with outreach and engagement in relation to vapes. Jon stated that anyone interested in engaging with Youthwatch to contact the him for more information.

It was also explained that parliament were currently looking at tighter legislation for the selling of vapes.

Samir asked if a levy or tax had been considered and Jon explained that this had been discussed – whether ter should be something relating to the sale of harmful products.

Jon explained that at the last meeting of the Youth Cabinet a question had been raised in relation to school nurses. Jon had contacted the Northern Care Alliance who provided the service to find out more information. He had been advised that each Local Authority high school has a nurse that visits once a week to run a drop in session. These were usually run over the lunch time but sometimes the nurses would arrange their work pattern to allow for longer sessions at each school.

·         One of the you people present reported that there had not been any attendance at Bury Church and Jon stated that he had been advised that the nurse’s attendance was scheduled for a Monday at that school.

·         It was asked whether academies also had school nurses and it was explained that his was the case.

·         One of the young people present asked if it would be possible for each school to have a full time nurse on site.

Jon reported that there would not be the resources to cover the cost of this.

·         A young person explained that most pupils were not aware that a school nurse was available.

Jon reported that he would feed this back to the Northern Care Alliance and request that the service be promoted as much as possible.

It was suggested that the Early Break service should also be promoted in schools.

Jen Mills explained that she attended a schools sub group with the Director of Education. She also had links with Early Break so would move this request forward.

·         It was also asked that the information be shared with home schooled young people.

To review and sign off the draft SEND charter.

Draft Charter to follow.

Scout explained that the first draft of the SEND Charter had been produced.

A number of groups had had input into the draft document .

Scout asked all present to split into groups and work through the following activities:

Activity 1 – Discussion in small groups

What does it mean to work together?

What does working together with peers look like? What does working together with adults look like – How are they different?

Activity 2 – Split into groups for 5 Mins

How does working together benefit children young people and their families?

For example: CYP feel valued and empowered; improves confidence; inspires a sense of purpose; supports outcomes like employability; creates social connections and peer support

How does working together benefit adults and professionals?

For example: better understanding of lived experiences; knowing they are making a difference; reduces complaints; responding to changing needs; more accountability; increased trust

Activity 3

Circuit of statements; yp move around and add notes for 10 mins

First meeting showed that Bury has lots of enthusiasm, good practice, and written documents. Bury would benefit from more cohesion, consistency, and celebration.

• We work as equal partners as we plan, deliver and review services and support

• We plan together so that working together is safe, simple and meaningful for everyone involved. We all build the skills we need to do this, and we learn from each other about how we can improve and involve a wider range of people.

• We communicate positively and make space for each other's views, showing respect, kindness and trust. We are open and transparent but respect confidentiality and each other's dignity.

•We know that we work together best when we have strong, open and honest relationships. We can challenge each other positively and learn from each other

Activity 4

Look at Philippa's proposal of before, during, and after.

How does it need to be adapted to ensure ALL YOUNG PEOPLE with varying degrees of support needs are included and able to contribute?

Facilitators think of examples to prompt young people

All  those present worked on the four activities set out and made notes.

It was reported that Scout would take away the work sheets that had been produced and report back to the Youth Cabinet at a future meeting.

It was reported that the Circles of Influence had been held and had been attended by 5 representatives from each High School and decision makers and senior officers from partner organisations across the borough.

The key findings would be set out in the report along with recommendations relating to those findings. One piece of work that had been highlighted for the Youth Cabinet to pick up was the Anti Bullying Charter.

Once the report has been completed and signed off it will be sent out in draft to as many organisations and partners as possible.

Heather thanked all those involved for their input on the event.

Heather reported that the Youth Parliament Elections would be taking place over the next few weeks with the count taking place on Tuesday 10 February.

All high schools and colleges across Bury were taking part and would be receiving ballot papers which will be collected or returned to be included in the count process.

It was explained that posters would be available to all schools to promote the election and to explain how to take part.

The Bury MYP Samir explained that this would be his final update to the Youth Cabinet as he would no longer be the MYP after the election on 10 February.

He had met with Lucy Powell MP to highlight issues in relation to public transport.  The discussion had included issues on the Metrolink – Bury Line, improvements bus tracking on the Bee Network app.

It was agreed:

That Samir be thanked for all his hard work in role as Bury’s Member of Youth Parliament.

Violet gave an update of discussions that had taken place at the meetings of the Greater Manchester Youth Combined Authority.

Issues discussed included different academic routes such as T Levels. Mental health, the Bheard group, integrated neighbourhood working and health services working together.

It was agreed:

That Voilet be thanked for the update.

It was explained that an update would be shared with the Cabinet Members.

It was reported that the Youth Cabinet had been invited to have an input into the naming of the Flexi Hall that was in to process of being built in the Town Centre. One of the young people had attended a meeting where the options had been discussed and it had been agreed that it would be named ‘Casewells’ after Bury First Black Pudding Producers.

Should school summer holidays be shortened to allow for longer holidays at other times?

Those present held a debate to discuss the above and a vote was held

It was agreed:

1.    That school’s summer break should remain the same as is currently.

2.    That the next debate should be either

·         Should the school day start earlier?

·         Should mobile phones be banned in schools?