CORNWALL Council is looking to ensure that children and young people have more of a say in services that affect them.

The council has drawn up new youth engagement guidance which it hopes will get young people more involved in work at County Hall.

A report on the guidance is set to go to the council’s children and families overview and scrutiny committee.

It states: “Children and young people tell us that they want us to listen to them.

They want to be more involved in decisions about their lives and about the help they receive. Children, young people and their families tell us that the best help they receive is accessible where they live, includes high quality information, advice and guidance, comes early enough to allow them to resolve their own problems. Effective support is coordinated between professionals so that the services young people choose to access are not fragmented and constant reassessment is avoided.”

Cornwall Council says it is expecting to see a rise in the number of under-25s in the county over the coming years.

Statistics for 2015 showed there were 148,976 under-25s in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly but this is expected to rise by 20,500 by 2030 – an increase of 14%.

By creating youth engagement guidance the council hopes to be able to involve more under-25s which it says are the hardest audience to reach.

The guidance states: “This guidance should underpin how we will work together to ensure young people can have their say on decisions and issues that interest and affect them. We want the young people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to have every opportunity to express their views and know that they are listened to, fully participating and having an influence on decisions that affect them in a meaningful way. This includes obtaining consent to participate from young people and the people and organisations responsible for them.”

Under its plans the council wants to ensure that children and young people are able to have a say as individuals and as groups.

For individuals this could include ensuring that children who are in care having a say and being listened to.

And for groups this could involve having a say in how services are created and delivered as well as taking part in projects aimed at young people and children.

In involving young people the guidance says that the council should ensure it is respectful, inclusive, rewarding, enjoyable and meaningful.

There are already a number of organisations that children and young people are involved in which help to influence council decisions in Cornwall.

These include the Cornwall Youth Cabinet for 11 to 18 year olds; CAMHs Young People’s Board for 13 to 18 year olds; Young People’s SEND Board for 11 to 25 year olds; CareForChange Council for 16 to 25 year olds; Headstart Youth Board for ages 10 to 16; Young Carers Group and Your Way Community Development for ages 11 to 19.

The council is also looking at ways of using social media to engage young people in discussions about issues and services.

The children and families overview and scrutiny committee is due to meet on Wednesday, March 6.