Press release -

Question time - young people quiz borough’s bosses


Milnrow Youth Centre hosted the second of 2014’s Question Time sessions recently (March 20), with local young people putting questions to representatives from the council, police and NHS.

The Question Time sessions form part of Rochdale Children and Young People’s Partnership's commitment to listening and acting on the concerns of children and young people. There are
four sessions every year, with each township taking turns to host the event.

The agenda was set by the young people, with five groups of teenagers quizzing directors, chief inspectors and councillors about the issues that matter to them.

Topics up for discussion included the state of Milnrow Skate Park, access to local sporting facilities, the relationship between young people and the police, the cost and access to transport, and the issue of young people being judged by their clothing.

Gail Hopper, Director for Children’s Services at Rochdale Borough Council, said that the purpose of the evening was to continue what is a developing dialogue with young people in the borough:

“It was tremendously useful to hear about what’s important to the young people using our services. The task for us is to take away feedback and actually do something about it afterwards.”

In attendance was GMP Chief Inspector Nadeem Mir, Neighbourhood Police Constable David Gurr, NHS Nurse Caroline Waldron, Ward Councillors Andy Kelly, Janet Darnbrough and Stephanie Mills, as well as Conservative Group leader Ashley Dearnley and Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, Donna Martin. Assistant Director for Early Help and Schools, Sandra Bowness also took part in discussions, as did Community Safety’s Yvonne Pickering and Township’s Katie Moore.

Photograph:

ON THE SPOT:
Young people in Milnrow posed the questions and got answers at the ‘Question Time’ session.

-Ends-

Topics

  • Public sector

Categories

  • children's services
  • nhs
  • gmp
  • rochdale council
  • milnrow
  • cypp

Regions

  • Greater Manchester

Head to rochdale.gov.uk

Rochdale Borough Council - We are a council which builds success and prosperity with our citizens and partners, whilst protecting our vulnerable people.

Contacts

  • Mohammed Zarafat (far left), Youth Worker, and Sandra Bowness (2nd left), Assistant Director, Early Help and Schools, discuss the relationship between the police and young people
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  • Cllrs Janet Darnbrough (far left) and Stephanie Mills (2nd left) join Gail Hopper (centre), Director of Children's Services to discuss access to football facilities in the township
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  • Cllr Donna Martin (2nd left), Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, relaxes with members of Milnrow Youth Centre before Question Time starts
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  • NHS Nurse Caroline Waldron (2nd left), Youth Worker Angela McCormack (3rd left) and Cllr Ashley Dearnley (centre) discuss Milnrow Skate Park
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    © All rights reserved
  • GMP Chief Inspector Nadeem Mir (centre left) and Cllr Andy Kelly (centre right) discuss the issue of how young people are judged on their dress
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    © All rights reserved
  • Community Safety's Yvonne Pickering and Katie Moore from Townships discuss transport issues in Milnrow
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Related content

  • Teenagers quiz top decision makers at third question time event

    Politicians and senior officers from the council and police were quizzed by Rochdale’s young people on Tuesday 24 June, during a Question Time event hosted by Rochdale Youth Forum at Touchstones. Organised by Rochdale Council’s Youth Service, the session gave youngsters an opportunity to put the issues that affect them to the borough’s top decision makers.