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Young inspectors to scrutinise services
Published on July 02, 2009
Children and young people will inspect the services they use in Sutton and help improve them in a new scheme being launched on Thursday 2 July.
Children’s charity Jigsaw4u and Sutton Council will be launching the ‘Young Inspectors’ programme at the charity’s office in Mill Green Road, Mitcham, on Thursday 2 July.
Under the Youth4U – Young Inspectors programme, Jigsaw4u will be working with the council to recruit, train and support young people to investigate and assess local services and recommend improvements. Young inspectors will be given the opportunity to achieve accredited qualifications through the programme.
Jigsaw4u supports children, young people and their families who have experienced, grief, loss and trauma to meet together to tell their stories, develop coping strategies and social networks.
Cllr Tony Brett Young, Executive Member for Children and Young People on Sutton Council, said: “This is a great opportunity for young people to tell us what they think of the services they use in Sutton.
“We want to provide the very best to young people in the borough.
“To do this we must listen to them and truly involve young people in local decision making so that the services we provide are relevant, effective and meet their needs.”
Eny Osung, Local Support Worker for Young Inspectors programme at Jigsaw4u, who is training five young people, aged from 16 to 18, says: “The aim of this initiative is for young people to influence services. They are being empowered to visit services and give recommendations.
“The first inspection will be of Jigsaw4u itself. There will be 12 inspections a year and for each one young people will receive two days of training on confidence, communication, research, presenting and inspection skills, before carrying out an inspection on the third day and putting together the report.”
The reports will be sent to the Department for Children Schools and Families, the inspected organisation receives a copy and the findings are presented to local youth organisations like the Youth Parliament.
To find out more about the scheme contact Charlene Quinn on 020 8770 5157 or email Charlene.quinn@sutton.gov.uk
