Pledges from our teams

Gateshead Council would like to make sure that your participation really makes a difference, that's why we've asked our teams to make pledges to help make this happen.

This is an ever growing strategy. If your team would like to make a pledge, please email [email protected].

Gateshead Virtual School:

Virtual school's pledge to Children in our Care is to give you every opportunity to have a voice in decisions around your education including support and interventions, curriculum enrichment opportunities, your aspirations, views on pathways for your future.  We will do this a minimum of three times a year through your personal education plans.  We will also seek your views at times of transition or challenge when planning next steps.

To achieve 'Our Pledge' we will:

• listen to you, take your views seriously and tell you what we have done with your feedback
• be honest about what is possible and what is not
• celebrate your achievements 
• treat your views with care and respect
• use a variety of interesting ways to involve and listen to you
• promote equal opportunities through a variety of communication techniques
• provide opportunities to engage in a way that is meaningful to you

Principal Social Worker:

"As the Principal Social Worker, I will continue to promote the importance of young people being heard. Listening to the voices of our young people will help us to make sure we are doing a great job for you. We will ask ourselves if we are communicating with you the best way and will seek to learn how to understand your views."

Children and Young People's Rights and Engagement Team:

The Children and Young People's Rights and Engagement Team will make sure that your voice, opinions, and life experiences are heard throughout Gateshead Council and are reflected in the services you receive. We will take your feedback seriously and make sure that senior leaders in the council hear your words and that your views make a difference. We will do this by creating a variety of engagement opportunities for you to make sure your opinions are heard in a way which you are comfortable. This includes regular meetings of:

• Gateshead Youth Assembly
• Gateshead SEND Youth Forum
• Children in Care Council
• Be More Cat!
• Care Experienced Forum
• Other regular engagement groups and events

We will use a variety of methods to make sure that you understand what we're asking, and we will let you know what we've done with your views in a way which you understand. Your voice matters!