Appendix

Consultation results summary

This strategy is based upon real life views, experiences and needs of children and professionals who live and work in the city.

From October 2023 till February 2024 we did a youth consultation exercise across Preston with 1400 young people aged between 8-25 to gather the views of their life in the city. Here is what they said.........

What are the top three problems for young people in Preston?

1. Vaping
2. Drugs or Alcohol
3. Violence, Safety and Anti - Social Behaviour

What would you change about Preston to help make it better for young people?

1. Make the city cleaner, better upkeep of buildings and roads
2. Make things cheaper or free for young people
3. Better or cheaper transport

What do you want professionals to do for young people in Preston?

1. Support families more that are struggling
2. Make public areas cleaner
3. Let young people have a say about their services

The Youth Strategy Steering Group were keen to hear the views of professionals working with young people. As such, two round table listening events were held during the Spring of 2023 where professionals from the whole range of youth related services were invited to tell us:

• What the key challenges were facing young people? (lack of universal youth provision/places to go, mental health, exploitation)
• What was working well? (VCFSE provision, partnership working, sports clubs, partnership working, Holiday Activity & Food provision)
• How could organisations work better together? (better understanding of services, improved networking, more collaboration)
• What opportunities did we have to hear the voice of young people? (youth/school councils, outreach, social media, lived experience)

Here is what they said......

• There needs to be clearer referral pathways and better knowledge of services
• There needs to be more partner attendance at networking groups and more collaborative working between services
• Organisations need to share good practice and share resources with other youth partners
• Organisations need to include young people in the strategic decisions they make and continue to have two-way conversations with young people going forward.

Whilst we have based our findings on consultation that the Preston Youth Forum completed with young people we wanted to make sure we included other pieces of consultation happening in the city at the same time......

In 2023 UClan carried out the YouCount project with 50 young people and a group of young citizen scientists about how to increase social inclusion in the city. Some of the critical issues identified were.........

• Young people didn't feel safe and secure
• A lack of youth voice and influence in the city
• A lack of youth friendly places available
• Economics and affordability were major barriers for young people's positive development.

From January to March 2023 Lancashire County Council carried out their national Make Your Mark consultation with 1700 young people aged 11 -18 in Preston taking part. The topics most affecting the youth of Preston were............

• Culture media and sport
• Health and wellbeing
• Crime and safety
• Jobs, the economy and benefits.

The Lancashire Violence Reduction Network carried out a youth violence consultation in July 2022 in order to support the development of the Lancashire Serious Violence Strategy. 146 young people from 32 different organisations across Lancashire were asked what they thought were the main causes of violence....

• Exposure to violent media
• Lack of opportunities
• Attention, or a cry for help
• Seeing violence around us all the time
• I have been told to stand up for myself.

With thanks to partners and all children and young people whose views have contributed to the development of this strategy.

• Foxton - We are here
• Active Lancashire
• Bren Cook
• Better - the feel good place
• Preston North End Community and Education Trust
• Compass Bloom
• NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board
• Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Partnerships
• Lancashire Constabulary
• Lancashire County Council
• Lancashire Youth Challenge
• NHS
• Preston Youth Forum
• Preston City Council
• Safenet
• Vault
• Wot Wud U Do
• With you