Horden teenager presents youth violence report to Parliament
Blaydon-based group NE Youth say that Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE)Β sessions in school should include lessons on serious youth violence like knife crime and drugs and have compiled two separate reports on the issue, which they took to Parliament to present to MPs.
Ellie Johnson, 18, from Horden, was one of the young people who presented the findings of the reports to MPs, an experience she found ‘surreal’.
“The MPs were really supportive,” she said.
“It was a surreal experience to be there.
“They engaged a lot. They have got power,Β they were great.”
Ellie Johnson from Horden was one of those who spoke to MPs about the project.Β (Image: NE Youth) Ms Johnson, who has lived in Horden her entire life,Β said young people’s experiences of the sessions varied from school to school.Β
“We want to work with the Department for Education to create guidelines for PSHE,” she added.
Present at the meeting were Liz Twist, Mark Ferguson, Chris McDonald, Sharon Hodgson, Ian Lavery, Luke Akehurst, and a representative from Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips’ office.
MPs were asked by the group to consider updating the curriculum to include topics on serious youth violence – including knife crime –Β in PSHE lessons.
Knife crime isΒ once again at the forefront of the regional conversation with the recent visit of the ‘Knife Angel’ statue to Newton Aycliffe. Members of The Northern Echo’s Knife Crime Taskforce attended the opening and closing ceremonies.
The youth group has also been working with schools to help bring about a more ‘consistent’ experience of PSHE between different schools.
“The schools have been really supportive too,” Ms Johnson said.
The group wantΒ to link schoolsΒ with organisations to make sure that there is a ‘joined-up’ approach to wellbeing in schools.Β
“Schools need to know what’s out there,” Ms Johnson, who said she had a first-hand experience of trying to get mental health support while at school.
“The CAMHS waiting list is years,” she added, emphasising the need for other organisations to be able to link up with schools.
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Reflecting on the visit, Ms Johnson said that young people have “the power to make change.”
“Young people are able to ask for change and this project highlights that.”
Blaydon and Consett MP Liz Twist, who invited the group to present to MPs, said: “As the Government continues with its review of the RSHE curriculum and the roll-out of mental health support teams in schools, this was a very timely discussion, and I was very proud to have them representing our region.”