Primary school children in the Borough have said that, for them, being healthy means exercising not too much and not too little, eating healthy food, playing games, drinking water, needing sleep for energy, feeling well in your head, not smoking, taking drugs or drinking alcohol.
Young people said they need more confidential support when they are feeling worried or stressed and support in knowing that, at such times, it is normal to need to talk or attend counselling.
They wanted sexual health education at school to be delivered by non-teaching staff, such as youth workers and needed more information on where to go to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, more information on how diseases are spread and the signs to look for.
The kids have spoken, so the PCT and council have listened!
March will see the opening of the Be Healthy Conference which will focus on the four areas that concern our children and young people most – mental wellbeing, obesity, alcohol abuse and sexual health.
The event will be the first of several over the forthcoming year with the purpose of bringing together headteachers, health professionals and Wigan Council to work together and address these four major health concerns within the borough.
Public services in Wigan Borough will be working hard to give the borough’s children and young people the chances they deserve.
Wigan has a plan!
The Children and Young People’s Plan focuses on improving children and young people’s lives. Below are the eight areas which must be tackled over the next few years.
- Reduce teenage pregnancy and improve access to sexual health services
- Enhance children and young people’s wellbeing, with a particular focus on obesity, alcohol abuse and emotional resilience
- Safeguard children and young people through improved prevention, early intervention and community engagement
- Improve outcomes for children in care
- Narrow the attainment gap between our most disadvantaged communities and the population as a whole
- Reduce children and young people’s involvement in anti-social behaviour and offending
- Improve the range and accessibility of positive activities for all children and young people
- Increase participation and attainment in education, employment and training for 14-19 year-olds
