Charter for young people to be launched in Wirral

Jul 2 2008 by Sue McCann, Birkenhead News

A CHARTER dedicated to supporting children and young people is to be launched in Wirral.

The Health and Wellbeing Charter for Children and Young People sets out a commitment to support the development of health services in schools and other youth settings with the support of a wide range of organisations.

This includes voluntary, business and statutory sectors, including Wirral Primary Care Trust, Wirral Council, Merseyside Police, Birkenhead Sixth Form and Wirral Metropolitan Colleges, Link Forum, Connexions, Wirral University Teaching Hospital and the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology. Wirral News, along with Wirral MPs Angela Eagle, Frank Field, Ben Chapman and Stephen Hesford.

Deborah Williams, health promotion strategy manager who is leading the charter on behalf of the PCT, said that although a number of health services are well established in Wirral’s secondary schools there are gaps in provision around many health and wellbeing issues affecting pupils.

Under the charter, all Wirral secondary schools and youth settings will be encouraged to identify the services they need most. For some, this might include extending their school nurse’s time, providing more support to pupils wanting to stop smoking or having the resources to tackle issues such as alcohol misuse or stress. A new initiative called Teen Life coaching, which addresses lifestyle and weight management problems, is also being considered as an option.

Deborah Williams added: “Young people see their school nurse with many worries, such as family relationships, bereavement, bullying, sexual health, friendship and lifestyle issues and other typical teenage problems. We need to be able to address concerns quickly, effectively and sensitively.

“Serious problems often present in school and can impact not only on a student’s physical health but also on their emotional and mental health and well-being, which in turn affects attendance and attainment at school.”

Cllr Phil Davies, Wirral’s cabinet member for children’s services and lifelong learning, said: “Children and young people in Wirral are our most important asset.”

The charter will be launched at Wallasey Town Hall on July 7.