The event was held at Wormley Community Centre and was attended by over 50 local young people, councillors, secondary school staff, local residents and members of the Hertfordshire Police Cadets.
The Broxbourne Youth Council organised the event to give young people in the area the opportunity to speak with a panel of professionals and discuss the impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health. They also wanted to increase knowledge of the services and support that is available for young people in the area, present the voice of the young person to decision makers, and promote a better understanding of what was done to support young people during the pandemic, including what could have been done differently.
The professional panel consisted of:
- Charles Walker, Conservative MP for Broxbourne
- Jeremy Scott, Headteacher for John Warner Secondary School
- Mark Hughes, Area Team Manager for Services for Young People
- Jim McManus, Executive Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire County Council
- Vicky Gutteridge, Assistant to the CEO of The Ollie Foundation
- Cllr Lewis Cocking, Head of Broxbourne Borough Council
Members of the youth council, the young people who attended and the panellists themselves all gave positive feedback about the event.
Enrique, aged 15, said: “I really enjoyed attending this event. There should be more opportunities for the community to meet up and discuss important issues like mental health.”
In the run up to the event, supported by Services for Young People and Broxbourne Borough Council, the youth council used their weekly meetings to delegate roles, send invitations, promote the event, and consult other young people on questions they would like to ask the panel. Through involvement with the youth council they develop many new skills and play an active part in making a difference for young people in the area.
Want to get involved?
Broxbourne Youth Council meets every Wednesday evening during term time. They are always looking for new members aged 11-17 who would like to help create a better Broxbourne for all young people.
Find out more and how young people can join here: Broxbourne Youth Council.