Congleton Youth Forum meeting took place recently, download full meeting minutes HERE.
Highlights include:
Glen welcomed everyone to the meeting. Round the table introductions carried out for new members attending. M.Howell,J.Pestell-Hassal, R.Pickles and guest L.Nagle.
| Update from Mike Smith.
MS – In Bloom & Carnival funding application forms
E.Stanton (Cheshire Police) Safer Schools and Young Persons Partnership x 3 reports – Cheshire Police Schools Competition 5th Sept to 4th Nov – 60 sec Radio Commercial 0n raising awareness around- – Legal Highs / Healthy Relationships / On-line safety – Key stage 2, year 6 & Key stage 3 year 8 – Winning commercials broadcast on local radio. Visyon – Creative Space Programme (11 to 19 year olds)/ Photography Workshops (9th June for 6 weeks) MS – Sent out the Evolve Service Provision document (Legal Highs) CHS using them during their RE Day activity (Year 10 / July) Lisa / Cheshire East – Sexual Violence Support Services Awareness Workshops at Wilmslow and Crewe – Application forms included. MS – Food & Drink Fest 12th June, call out for volunteers. Contact Jo Money 07833742200 D.Murphy – CAB (Citezens Advice Bureau) looking for young trustees and Readesmore Medical Practice looking for 2 young people to serve on their Patient Panel (contact Denis denismurphy@tiscali.co.uk ) |
| Mental Health / Substance Misuse.
(a) Kooth.com –Lana Nagle
Lana Took us through a presentation on Kooth and the services that are offered. They have a fab website kooth.com where young people can access support on a range of mental health issues, feeling low, bullying, eating disorders, relationships etc. They are commissioned by the local authority so any of out groups can get free support. They also have an online counselling service which is open in the evenings and over the weekends (M to F 12.00 to 10,00 and Weekends 6.00 to 10.00pm) and also an online forum which is monitored by trained counsellors. Live forum activities are carried M/W/F 7.30 to 9.00pm. All schools should / could be accessing KOOTH and their materials they have to offer. They will also go into schools and do assemblies and workshops too. They have a wealth of knowledge and support, they can also offer posters and wallet sized cards to give to students. KOOTH can support a young person in the interim (whilst waiting other services appointments) and offer support in the evenings and weekends and all from their smart phones or laptops. If you would like KOOTH to come into your school, youth group or youth council committee then please let me know and I can pass her details onto you. Direct contact with Kooth/ Lana is :- lnagle@xenzone.com (b) Glens Paper – Project Proposals. Purposes:
To raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental health.
To highlight the negative effects of substance misuse especially legal highs.
To provide young people with details of a range of support available in relation to these issues.
Possible Solutions:
Presentations to school year groups and youth groups on mental health.
Substance misuse detached work with youth workers in known hot spot areas.
Production and distribution of essential helpline numbers and key facts.
Production of a play relating to the topics of mental health and substance misuse – link to Congleton Creative.
Health and wellbeing counsellor appointment to go into schools.
Mental health signs, what to look out for workshop – student leaders – what can be done, what support available?
Drug awareness day focussed around legal highs.
Video of someone who suffers mental health issues.
Access to wellbeing opportunities promotion – sports clubs, youth clubs, uniformed groups, healthy activities etc.
Discussions and Actions.
Look to get following on school assembly rotas for Sept term * Kooth *Evolve *Cheshire Police / Jane Cummings
Put together a pamphlet local to Congleton re services / support etc – L.Alcock to action
Talk to Frank website programme www.talktofrank.com Lisa to contact Caroline McQuaker re what is happening in Congleton. Should schools contact all parents re issues around local highs Do we look to go out into the town with information around the issues eg a stand in Tesco’s Foyer Lisa to speak to Dawn Clark to see if any funding available to support an initiative. Kooth to make a presentation to Congleton Youth Committee, MS talk to L.Minshull.
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