Members of the Youth Council will be present at the meeting to present the Youth Council Constitution and inform the Committee about their current work.  

The Executive Director of Children’s Services – Education, Early Help and Social Care, Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC), submitted a report providing an update on how the Youth Council operated in Reading, an overview of how the Youth Council was run and the various roles and responsibilities of different positions within the Youth Council.  A copy of the Reading Youth Council Constitution 2020-2023 was appended to the report.

The report explained that the Youth Council were seeking endorsement to promote further the Youth Council across the Borough.  The Youth Council Constitution would inform future recruitment, to ensure a wide representation of young people.  The Constitution was a three year working document and future reviews would coincide with the planned changes of leadership in the Youth Council.

The Deputy Chair and a member of the Youth Council were present at the meeting answered questions and addressed the Committee.  They explained that the work of the Youth Council had been reduced due to the pandemic and although meetings had taken place online engagement with members had been a struggle.  Holding online meetings had impacted on membership as virtual meetings were not popular and a campaign was underway to recruit new members.  The application process would recommence in February 2022.  Three campaigns were being worked on: plastic waste and the environment, mental health and transforming education.  A campaign on knife crime had taken place previously and a report had been published with Thames Valley Police. 

The Chair thanked the members of the Youth Council for attending the meeting and told them that they would be welcome at future meetings of the Committee and any other Council meetings.

Resolved –     That the updated Youth Council Constitution and planned recruitment campaigns across Reading schools be endorsed.