My Say Matters 2022 achievements and activities

2022 has come to an end and was another year of remarkable contribution from Barnet’s young people. Their efforts and involvement with important matters, decision making, and events were inspirational and so valuable to us all. This is evident in the fantastic achievements and activities below.

We finished the year wanting to create a season’s greetings card from family services for our staff and partners as well as members of our community, but we felt this would be most meaningful if we could include the input from our young people. As such, we used the excellent design of D, age 16, for our season’s greetings card.

The card was loved by all.

We wish you all well for 2023 and we look forward to another exciting year of collaboration with Barnet’s brilliant young people.

Barnet’s Child in Care Council open our 2022 Family Services Staff Conference

On 9 November, BOP (Barnet on Point) our Children in Care Council opened Barnet’s Family Services Staff Conference with a speech sharing the importance of #youthvoice and what it means for them to have a safe space to express their individuality.

It means the world to them to have the appropriate support from their carers, social workers, and all other professionals working with children and young people.

“BOP is a support group for us, a safe space where we have a voice, where we can learn that we have opportunities, where you can express your individuality without feeling judged because the young people in the group have the same lived experiences.

It means a lot to us to have discussions with young people from different backgrounds who can relate – we are family. BOP helps you have a voice, it makes us understand the importance of having a voice and we feel that we are listened to. At BOP you can always find someone to confide in. Even if you are shy and going through a lot, someone else will say it for you and it makes it easier.” BOP Members 2022

BOP also led an exercise for the whole staff group ( 400 people!) where they were asked to bake a recipe for their perfect person who works with children. Staff did some really creative recipes and BOP shared what they wanted the worker to be like. This was so inspiring that one staff member sang her reply!

Visiting the Mayor for Tea and talking about local democracy

Members of Barnet’s My Say Matter’s youth participation projects were recently invited to tea with the Mayor in her parlour. This included a fascinating presentation on the history of Barnet over the last 600 years, the role of the Mayor in civic life and arrangements for local democracy. Everyone agreed that it helped us feel better connected to Barnet as a place to live and be part of local decision making.

Elysse a Member of Youth Parliament said she enjoyed the interactive aspect, young people got to try on the ceremonial gowns and hold the mace.

Ania Siad who is a Barnet Youth Ambassador said “ the information was all very new, I found it really interesting listening to the history of Barnet and seeing the Robe Show”.

Sam a member of BING one of our youth forums said “ it was interesting to learn that the local authority has priorities that are in line with young people”.

Young people open Barnet’s full council meeting for the second time

Barnet’s young people continue to contribute to local democracy as part of the My Say Matters project. On 1 Nov 2022 Jonah Howe opened the Full Council Meeting with a speech remembering the legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and welcoming our new King Charles 2.

He noted the contribution of the Royal Family in supporting young people and then encouraged adults to take the issue of climate change seriously as a key priority for youth.

Afterwards Jonah (who is a member of Barnet’s Youth Board and Assembly) said “it was an honour to be asked to open the council meeting and thank you to the Mayor of Barnet for giving me and other young people the chance to make our say matter. Hopefully the start of more exciting things to come!”.

Children in Care celebrate Black History Month

In October BOP (Barnet on Point) our Child in Care Council celebrated Black History Month with a Caribbean takeaway and discussion about inspirational Black care leavers.

We learnt about the achievements of Loraine Pascale (Chef, writer, TV, presenter and model) and Lemn Sissay (Poet, University Chancellor and OBE).

We also heard from one of Barnet's own Black care leavers who shared her inspiration and advice, and explained the history behind the food we were eating. Young people taking part from all cultural backgrounds were pleased to share their knowledge and appreciation of Black British culture and the contribution it has made to their lives.

Young People meet with council members and senior leaders to plan Barnet’s Black History Month 2022

Barnet is busy planning for October’s Black History Month. This year’s theme is Time for Change; Actions Not Words: Black History Month 2022.

Young people met with councillors and the Director of Children’s Services on 8 August 2022.

A wider consultation exercise with young people is also taking place to ensure that the community influence the planning and delivery of Black History Month events.

“I found the meeting to be really insightful and it was amazing that we were able to have our voices heard on how we’d like to have black history month in Barnet shaped!” - Kian, member of Barnet Youth Board.

Young people opened full council meeting
On 26 July, young people in Barnet were invited by the Mayor Cllr Alison Moore to open all full council meetings for the duration of her term.

Eleven young people representing our local youth forums wrote a speech that was read out at the first meeting of the new council administration.

The speech covered the My Say Matters strategy. This was presented to all Councillors and set out the need to involve young people in the democratic process and what they can offer.

"For the first time in Barnet Council's history, young people have opened a full council meeting. This landmark moment marks the beginning of a transformative process to meaningfully centre the engagement and participation of all young people across all efforts, procedures and decision-making by Barnet Council. Our heartfelt gratitude to Madam Mayor for this initiative and opportunity.

We collectively look forward to working with Councillors in an intergenerational manner, as co-leaders, co-creators and co-owners, to deliver on concrete action and changes to make Barnet a more inclusive, representative, healthier, safer and greener Borough for all young people and future generations." Ishaan Shah, Chair of Barnet Youth Assembly

Young people with mayor at Full Council meeting

Summer celebration for Barnet’s children in care

On 26 July 2022 Barnet held a Family Fun Day for 200 young people, their carers and Family Services staff to celebrate the achievements of our children in care. The event included an awards ceremony where children of all ages received a certificate for their achievements which was presented by Barnet’s Mayor and senior leaders.

Activities included music, great food, inflatables, mindfulness, dance, and an ice-cream van. The day provided a great opportunity for our children in care to get together, socialise and meet the staff who support them all year round.

"I thought it was amazing and I loved the gaming van. The food was delicious especially the slushies and ice cream. It felt really good to get my certificate, I was proud of myself and so were my friends. I wanted to stay and play football for longer with everyone, I didn’t want it to end." T, member of BOP our Child in Care Council

Children and Young Peoples Survey Follow Up Focus Groups July 2022

Barnet Council wants young people to have a say on issues that impact them and to help make a positive change in their local area. Over 500 young people from across the borough shared their views through the perception survey (conducted late 2021/early 2022) and the findings show that most young people:

are happy with their local area as a place to live - 94% in 2021/22 compared to 90% in 2020
think Barnet is a family-friendly place to live - 89% in 2021/22 compared to 84% in 2020
think that the council is doing a good job - 90% in 2021/22 compared to 92% in 2020
think the council involves them when making decisions - 70% in 2021/22 compared to 60% in 2020
are concerned about crime (41%), litter/dirt in the streets (29%) and traffic congestion (26%)

In July 2022, the Council ran six workshops with young people to unpack the recent perception survey results. 63 young people shared their views on several topics including education, housing, mental health, and community safety.

The sessions were a huge success, and some participants have since signed up to join one of the Council’s youth forums. The insights gained from the workshops will help shape the Council’s new plan to support children and young people.

Findings from this engagement can be found on engage.barnet.gov.uk/young-peoples-workshops

Youth Parliament 22nd National Conference 22 to 24 July 2022

Our Members of Youth Parliament Isaac and Elysse took part in this national event in Hull. More information on the event can be found below:

Young people plan and deliver the launch of the My Say Matters Strategy 31 May 2022

The press release from the My Say Matters launch event which took place on 31 May 2022.

You can view the pledges made at the launch by children and young people and professionals from Barnet’s multi-agency partnership.