Children's Rights and Engagement Team
The Children's Rights and Engagement (CRE) Team provides support and offers advocacy to all children and young people in Gateshead.
The team is responsible for managing multiple channels of support for children and young people in Gateshead, such as the Gateshead Youth Assembly and the SEND Youth Forum.
An additional priority for the CRE team is to support young people who are struggling with their wellbeing or who just need someone to talk to.
The CRE Team consists of:
- Valerie Ender, Children and Young People's Participation Officer
- Alex Thompson, Children and Young People's Participation Officer
- Alexandra Amos, Young Ambassador Apprentice
- Kieran Dodd, Young Ambassador Apprentice
There are several ways young people and carers of young people with additional needs can access support from the CRE Team.
Find out more about the types of support on offer and how you can access support below.
Gateshead Children in Care Council
They meet regularly at the Lobley Hill Building and act as the link between children and young people in care and the decision makers in Gateshead Council. The CiCC has a broad remit, from meeting decision makers, helping to deliver schemes for younger children, creating and delivering training to foster carers, social workers and decision makers, taking part in the recruitment and selection of CSC staff and sometimes, just a space to chill out, meet friends and destress.
Being part of the CICC is a great opportunity for children and young people who are looked after by the council to meet, talk about their issues with people who understand, and to make change happen.
Contact Valerie at [email protected] to join the group, or if you would like more information.
Care Experienced Steering Group
Our Care Ex Steering Group meets monthly at The Outpost and is led by Alexandra and Kieran who are also care leavers. This group have been part of recruitment and selection panels, have worked with decision makers on issues most affecting Care Experienced young people and will continue to develop services for their peers going forward.
For more information, contact Alexandra [email protected] or Kieran [email protected]
SEND Youth Forum
The Gateshead SEND Youth Forum has been running since 2020. It meets monthly online and in person - it's hybrid so that it's as accessible as possible for everyone. It's open to all local children and young people with SEND aged 14-25, as well as those young people who have a genuine interest in improving SEND provisions. Each meeting is facilitated by Gateshead's SEND Children and Young People's Participation Officer - more information can be found on the Gateshead Local Offer website https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/32439/Gateshead-SEND-Local-Offer
To request to join the group or to find out more information, contact Alex Thompson at [email protected].
Gateshead Youth Assembly
GYA has been around since 1999 and while every year is a distinct group, they generally follow similar paths, the young people peer research, assess, design, deliver then evaluate a whole range of personal development and social action projects. Alongside this they work as the link between Gateshead's young people and decision makers and to this end senior decision makers are regularly invited to GYA to discuss current issues and themes.
Contact Valerie at [email protected] for more information.
Young Inspectors
The Young Inspectors meet weekly on Wednesdays from 4pm until 6pm at Gateshead Youth Council, 12 Gladstone Terrace, Gateshead, NE8 4DY.
They inspect services aimed at young people to ensure that they are fit for purpose, with consideration on ease and accessibility.
If you want to get involved, please contact Valerie at [email protected].
Advocacy and Support to Young People
Advocacy is offered to children and young people who have a social worker and might need extra support in making their voices heard.
Any child or young person can also choose to access the advocacy and support offered by the CRE team.
For further information, contact the Children's Rights and Engagement Team at [email protected].
Key contacts
Children's Rights and Engagement Team at [email protected].
Valerie Ender: Children and Young People's Participation Officer - [email protected]
Alex Thompson: Children and Young People's Participation Officer - [email protected]
Alexandra Amos: Young Ambassador Apprentice - [email protected]
Kieran Dodd: Young Ambassador Apprentice - [email protected]