Agenda item

8.1

The Policy and Improvement Officer submitted a report on the proceedings of the Committee’s Annual Meeting with Young People, and setting out proposed options on how the Committee’s work with young people could be conducted in the future. 

8.2

The Chair stated that the meeting, which had been held in April, 2013, at Devonshire Green Young People’s Building, and organised in conjunction with Sheffield Futures, had been both very interesting and productive and that the reaction of the young people had shown how much they appreciated the fact that the Committee were interested to hear what they had to say. She stated that the meeting had provided an opportunity for Members of the Committee to meet young people and young carers who were involved in the Sheffield Youth Cabinet. The young people had raised a number of areas of concern, including issues regarding contacting services such as Housing and GP services.

8.3

Jules Jones stated that one of the young people had raised the issue relating to the fact that under 18 year olds were not entitled to Carer’s Allowance and that there was a general lack of awareness of the work undertaken by young carers, and the implications that this had on their lives.

8.4

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       notes the contents of the report now submitted, together with the comments now made; and

(b)       requests the Policy and Improvement Officer to (i) draft a letter, to be signed by the Chair of the Committee, and to be sent to all Sheffield Members of Parliament, expressing the concerns raised by the young people regarding their inability to access Carers Allowance and (ii) make the necessary arrangements for the Committee to visit and meet the young people in April 2014.