A three year vision to boost special needs education support, job opportunities and health for children published today is hailing a bright future for young people in Dudley borough.

The Dudley Children and Young People Alliance which is made up of the council and all those agencies who play a part in improving outcomes for children and young people in the borough wants to make sure that by working together that Dudley is a place where children and young people thrive.

Through the Alliance and the Dudley Youth Council they have pledged to raise children and young people’s aspirations and create opportunities for them to achieve and enable children and young people to have a voice.

They will work with children and young people to keep them safe and healthy as well as making sure that children, young people and their families  need extra help they get the right help at the right time. Councillor Anne Millward, cabinet member for children’s services, said: 

“We want children and young people to play an active role in achieving the vision by believing in themselves and getting involved and having their say as well keeping themselves and others safe.”

Based on local evidence, the Alliance has identified a number of key focus areas that fit into the overall goals of supporting healthy weight, reducing the negative effects of poverty and tackling loneliness and isolation in children and families.

Over the next five years the Alliance will be looking at employment and training opportunities for young people. They will be strengthening the offer the borough has for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Five Family Centres will be established across the borough to support those families who need extra help and the Walking to Schools Programme will help children maintain a healthy weight.

Other priority areas include supporting and improving children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing and a new Schools Nurture Programme will be developed to support this aim. Also Dudley iZone a brand new website has been written and designed by young people for young people s is being launched this month. Tony Oakman, strategic director for people and chair of the Alliance said:

“Key to the success of the Alliance in achieving its aims is to support children, young people and families to help themselves and each other within their communities this year and through the partnership we are launching a summer-long activity programme,’ Summerfest 2K17’ which brings together all the fantastic activities and events from across the partnership for children and young people

The role of the Alliance provides the overall leadership and accountability for the delivery of improved outcomes for children and young people in Dudley, and their effective transition to adulthood. It is about contributing to a collective task focused on children and young people rather than on individual organisations and their own agendas and I look forward to what we can achieve working together.”