Recognising the rights of Cornwall’s young people and their significant contribution as carers were both in spotlight at today’s Cornwall Council Cabinet meeting.
Two new strategies were approved. The first, the Young Carers and Young Adult Carers Strategy, aims at ensuring the required support is available for those left with caring responsibilities at a young age.
According to the latest date, there are more than 2,300 children and young adults across Cornwall who are registered as helping look after family members who are ill, disabled, have mental health conditions or misuse drugs and alcohol.
Barbara Ellenbroek, Portfolio Holder for Children and Families said that the new strategy aims to ensure all young carers are identified quickly, and are given the support they need, including group activities, support in school, courses to help support their work, and vital respite breaks.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Phillip Desmonde, told the cabinet: “Young carers suffer from significant anxiety around their futures.
“We want to allow these young carers to be able to see their world differently, and we want to support them to ensure they have the access they need to education and work opportunities.
“We all have a duty to offer this support to our young people, and I am delighted we are delivering on our key priority to ensure Cornwall is a brilliant place to grow up for all our children.”
The second item approved at today’s meeting at New County Hall was the creation of a Children’s Rights Approach framework, which will develop a culture which recognises the need to consider children in all areas of the council’s work.
Based on the Welsh model ‘The Right Way’, a new Children’s Rights Working Group will be created, whose work will ensure that children are given the opportunity to have their say and help inform the decisions made by the council which will affect them in years to come.
Also on today’s agenda was the regeneration project for Pydar in Truro, which sets in place the framework for moving the project forwards following the outline planning consent for the plans being awarded, including the start of groundworks at the site.
A full business case will now be prepared for consideration before any further decisions are made on the project.
View our webcast recording of this meetingPublished 10 November, 2021