Cornwall Youth Council’s Manifesto Unveiled: What Does It Mean for Young People?

Cornwall Youth Council has published an ambitious manifesto outlining its key goals for the next two years, aiming to improve the lives of children and young people across the county.

Shaping the Future with Young Voices

The manifesto focuses on ensuring children and young people:

• Have a safe home to live in.
• Are included in school decisions that affect their daily lives.
• Benefit from better parks and playgrounds.
• Understand how to look after their physical and mental health.

The plan is shaped by pledges from all 12 council members, elected by over 10,000 children across Cornwall last year. It also reflects insights from the Make Your Mark and Right On surveys, which gathered nearly 18,000 responses from young people on issues impacting their futures.

To read the full manifesto, visit the Youth Council web pages.

A Collective Commitment to Change

The Youth Council, which operates as part of Cornwall Council, aims to give children and young people a platform to have their voices heard, aligning with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Key actions include:

• Creating spaces for youth voice groups to contribute to council decisions.
• Listening to young people through surveys and events, such as the Annual Conversation.
• Sharing information via posters, social media, and direct outreach to schools, colleges, and communities.
• Engaging with headteachers, school councils, and student unions.
• Attending community events and conferences to raise awareness.

Individual Goals from Youth Council Members

Some council members have highlighted their specific goals:

• Gabriella (Newquay and St Austell): “Ensuring young people are involved in decisions that affect them in their school life, such as changes to uniform and times of the school day.”
• Cadan (St Ives): “Better access to support in schools for children and young people for mental health and wellbeing.”
• Ruby (Truro and Falmouth): “Making sure that all children and young people in Cornwall have someone they can go to to talk about their mental wellbeing without judgement or stigma.”
• Reuben (North Cornwall): “Make the future for all young people better, working together to improve the outcome for all children, especially those with learning difficulties and disabilities.”

Council’s Support for Young Leaders

Councillor Barbara Ellenbroek, cabinet member for children and families, praised the Youth Council’s manifesto, saying:

“This manifesto is super impressive, and I know it will make a real difference in shaping the future of Cornwall for children and young people. The Youth Council plays a crucial role in holding Cornwall Council to account, letting us know what we do right, what we do wrong, and what we need to be focusing on more.”

Barbara also highlighted the council’s commitment to collaboration:

“There is a permanent seat on the Cornwall Leadership Board for the Chair of Cornwall Youth Council, and recently, a representative from the Youth Council sat on the selection panel to help choose our new Chief Operating Officer – one of the top jobs at the council.”

She emphasised the council’s pledge to make Cornwall “a brilliant place to be a child and grow up” by working closely with young people to help them achieve their goals.

To find out more or get involved, visit the Youth Council web pages or email youthcouncil@cornwall.gov.uk.

For further details about children’s rights in Cornwall, visit the council’s dedicated children’s rights page.