Issue - meetings

1.

Title of Item/Report

Bright Minds Big Futures

2.

Record of the Decision

Cabinet received a report (and the accompanying presentation) that provided an update on annual BMBF activity.

Bright Minds Big Future (BMBF) was a youth-led movement working together with the Council to make the Borough a great place to grow up. 

The presentation accompanying the report was delivered by representatives of the BMBF team.

BMBF welcome the opportunity to present their progress and achievements for 2024/25.  The report also looks ahead and identifies future projects and opportunities.

Cabinet noted the two key themes BMBF were focussing on for 2024/2026:-

- Health and Wellbeing and Community Safety which came out of the consultation with over 6,000 young people during the Mark Your Mark Campaign.   

The presentation included the excellent progress that had been made in the last 12 months. Some notable examples included:

-         BMBF recruited 20 young people to be SBC Correspondents at SIRF.

-         Delivery of the ‘Second Chance to Dance Event’ providing over prom 30 dresses and suits to young people (to enable young people who may otherwise have struggled to attend their Prom).

-         Social action work including making up and distributing over 60 free goodie bags to families through the ‘Kit Out the Borough’ campaign.

In addition to the above achievements, BMBF members had also been contributing to a range of projects and initiatives including:

•         Environmental work through the Youth Climate Coalition.

•         Heath & wellbeing initiatives.

•         Building links with Council services such as the Leaving Care Team along with other partners including Youth United Stockton Alliance (YUSA), which was a collective of key partners who had come together to form an alliance to support the sustainability of high-quality open access youth provision across Stockton-on-Tees.

Over the last 6 months, a recruitment campaign had been underway to increase BMBF membership. The recruitment drive also continued to ensure that BMBF was representative of young people across the Borough.

Cabinet also noted that the Chair of BMBF, Ethan Gatenby was the Member of Youth Parliament (elected through the Make Your Mark Campaign).

Looking ahead, Health & Wellbeing and Community Safety campaigns would be a key focus for BMBF. BMBF members will do this through project groups and task & finish style groups. This would enable young people to choose to work on projects that they had a keen interest in. There would also be a continuing focus on recruiting new members to ensure BMBF remained representative of young people across the Borough.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

N/A

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

N/A