Extra Chance For Young People To Shape City Services

The deadline for Swansea’s Children and Young People Super Survey has been extended to enable even more youngsters to take part. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over 2,500 11 to 19 year olds in Swansea have already had a say in the questionnaire to help shape services across the city for generations to come. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

But some schools have told organisers even more pupils now want to take part so the survey deadline has been extended to the end of September so schools can support them to have their say too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It’s part of what’s called The Big Conversation – a range of activities from surveys to forums and other meeting opportunities giving young people the chance and support to influence the city’s future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The activities came out of discussions with young people about how they want to be involved and has seen the numbers taking part in shaping Council decisions soar from 30 five years ago when the council ran a youth council to over 3,000 last year alone. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Christine Richards, Cabinet Member for Services for Children and Young People, said: “I am delighted with the response we have had so far and am grateful to the over 2,500 young people who have already taken part. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We want as many young people as possible to have their say and are happy to support that by extending the deadline for schools and look forward to many more young people being able to take part. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As the first Council in the UK to sign up to the United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) we actively support children’s right to participate in shaping our city and its services, recognising the value and importance of listening to what children and young people have to say about decisions that affect them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Feedback from the super survey will help inform decisions on areas including education, wellbeing, leisure opportunities, and health and lifestyle choices and help improve life in the city for other youngsters and their families now and for generations to come.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Super Survey is available in English and Welsh and has been developed following feedback on the previous survey from participating schools and individual young people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The survey, which is now live, can be accessed on any device which has internet access, including smartphones, tablets and computers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Young people can have a look at https://www.vptol.co.uk/swanss16/survey/ to see the survey and take part. The survey is now open until September 30th 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​