Commissioner Lauches Cumbria Youth Commission

Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, will this week be attending two events in the county, to mark the launch of Cumbria Youth Commission.

He will attend the Years 9 and 10 Assembly, Workington Academy on Monday 27 March (8:30am), and Sixth Form Assembly at Ullswater High School, Penrith, on Wednesday 29 March (8:40am).

Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall explains: “I have commissioned Young Cumbria to help us establish the Cumbria Youth Commission, as I am keen to increase the involvement of young people in the county to help us keep our communities safe.

“The objective of the presentations this week is to raise awareness amongst young people of the Cumbria Youth Commission and to start to get young people thinking about the police and how they can make a change and help resolve the issues in their area.  They are best placed to know about the issues that affect them.

“I said in my manifesto that I really believe in working with young people to prevent crime and that I would launch a Youth Commission.  I meant it, and I am excited to be getting this Project off the ground, and look forward to seeing how the first phase develops over the next few months.

Lynsey Crosthwaite from Young Cumbria said: “The Cumbria Youth Commission provides young people in Cumbria with a unique opportunity to work alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner, allowing them to jointly address issues important to them.  This excellent and innovative programme enables the young people to be involved in producing and developing solutions they feel will best meet their needs.  Additionally, through involvement the young people will have a springboard to develop interpersonal and life skills to enhance their future opportunities.”

The aim of establishing Cumbria Youth Commission is so that the Police and Crime Commissioner can work in partnership with young people to;

• Address the most urgent priorities effecting young people.
• Enhance the county’s response to matters relating to policing and crime and their effects on young people.
• Train peer educators and researchers to provide peer education to young people on the priority areas and to gain their views on the issues.
• Work alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner to help develop the response and approach to young people for the Police and Crime Plan and advise on the commissioning of services aimed at children and young people.
• As much as possible, to bring together learning from existing work within the county on the priority issues to enhance the working knowledge of the Youth Commission and avoid duplication.
• To support and challenge the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner.