CLEVELAND’S first Youth Commission on Policing and Crime received a greater insight into the roles of Cleveland’s police and community safety leaders at their latest meeting.
Richard Lewis, Chief Constable for Cleveland Police, and Lisa Oldroyd, Acting Police and Crime Commissioner (A/PCC,) gave an overview of their roles and responsibilities at the Youth Commission’s second virtual meeting
The PCC-funded Youth Commission will host a conference next year, attended by the Acting PCC and other community leaders.
The conference, due to be held next spring, will report back on the Big Conversation – a major piece of consultation between members of the Commission and their peers throughout Cleveland.
The Big Conversation allows young people to express their views on a number topics selected by Commission as important to young people in Cleveland – and how they think those issues should be tackled.
Lisa Oldroyd, Acting Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, said: “It was great to see so many young people actively engaged in their communities.
“I look forward to seeing the results of the Big Conversation next year and examining how we can reflect young people’s views in our work moving forward.”
Cleveland Youth Commission member Eliza Fryett-Morley, 16, of Middlesbrough, said: “I really enjoyed this session and it’s something I really look forward to doing once a month.
“It was lovely meeting Lisa and Richard Lewis as they both had some really good information for us all. I like the fact that everyone is able to speak their ideas freely with no judgement.”
Richard Lewis, Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, said: “I really enjoyed being able to participate in the Youth Commission event; the interest, enthusiasm and commitment of the young people inspiring.
“I look forward to the findings of the Big Conversation, which is another important opportunity for us to hear the views of young people across Cleveland, helping us to improve our services by better understanding their needs and expectations.”
The Cleveland Youth Commission’s five key priorities for 2020/21 are:
- Mental health
- Drug and alcohol issues
- Relationships between young people and police
- Hate and online crime
- Youth activities and preventing re-offending
Members are now organising themselves into sub-groups based around the five themes to develop workshops, materials and to plan which organisations to approach to take the Big Conversation forward.
The PCC has commissioned engagement experts Leaders Unlocked to run the Youth Commission on Police and Crime.
Chelsea Greenwood, Cleveland Youth Commission Project Coordinator, said: “Most young groups of people I have worked with you have to really coax them to answer but this group is so passionate about making a change!
“I am so lucky to be working with such a wonderful group of Youth Commission members and I look forward to the next steps and the ideas they will bring!”
Leaders Unlocked is now contacting organisations throughout the region and starting to take bookings for the launch of the Big Conversation from November onwards.
If anyone is interested in Cleveland Youth Commission running a workshop (via Zoom) please contact: [email protected]