Young People’s Engagement “Our lives during a pandemic”

Outreach Key Messages July-August 2020

Covid-19 ‘National Lockdown’ Measures were put in place in March 2020. Contents

Children, young people and their families Where did we visit and what 1 were asked to ‘Stay home, save lives and protect our NHS’. did we do?

Therefore, from April to July 2020 Our Voice engaged with young people online. What did young people share? -Covid 19 As soon as restrictions were relaxed and 2 -Our Learning and Futures we were able to find young people in 3 parks and open spaces, we did. -The importance of recreation 4 and play We asked about their experiences of navigating a global pandemic, the changes that have resulted and what’s What Next? 5 important to them.

Here is a summary of what they told us…

Where did we visit and what did we do?

The main purpose of the outreach sessions was to promote the Our Voice We have also met virtually with the LGBTQ+ Youth Programme and encourage young people from across to join in! We Group at the Brunswick Centre, the Children in know there will be exciting experiences and opportunities available, for Care Council and Care Leavers Council. them to make a difference in the coming months.

We have spoken to 238 children and young people* this Summer, their ages Spen Valley In North Kirklees, we visited: Cleckheaton have varied from 8-23. Alongside promoting our current projects, we have Batley Birstall also asked young people how they have managed ‘lockdown’ and what they Heckmondwike feel about the coming months…

Mirfield Dewsbury In & Kirkburton, we visited:

In Central, we visited: village centre

Scissett Recreation Ground, Sports Centre Car Park

The Town Centre Huddersfield and village centre Recreation Ground and Cricket Club Greenhead Park Central Lindley Recreation Ground (next to the First School) Ravensknowle Park Almondbury Mitchell Avenue Park Kirkburton

Southfield Road Park Some of the young people had travelled between

Almondbury Village Centre Moldgreen 6-12 miles to different areas and parks. They were as young as 14 and had used public Denby Dale transport and walked. This suggests if young Meltham people want to get somewhere-they will! Distance does not seem to put young people off attending In the Colne Valley, we visited: places of interest/meeting friends. Milnsbridge village centre Holmfirth Crow Lane Park village centre Sycamore Estate Slaithwaite In the Holme Valley we visited: The Sand’s Playing Fields and Park Holmfirth village centre Meltham and Honley *We’ve defined children as aged 11 and below. Those aged 12 and over are referred to as ‘young people’

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Children & Young People’s Views on ‘Covid-19’

Children and young people naturally discussed the pandemic, as part of our conversations.

The changes to daily life have been unprecedented. All young people discussed the prolonged period at home, changes to schooling, missing their friends and family, how they have used their time during ‘national lockdown’, and their thoughts about the virus.

Here are the key themes that emerged…

“My Grandma had it, she’s ok now, but she’s the only person I know” (young person16-Huddersfield “Look, I’m not Social Distancing What do these key messages tell us? Central) and I’m not wearing a mask”

(Child 10-Valleys) • The young people who spoke with us, appear to have seen little impact on A re-occurring theme was that the majority of the

young people we spoke with, had not themselves Younger children appeared to their own and their family’s physical health, as a result of Covid-19. experienced ill health from Covid-19, nor had their have more resistance to the Although it is arguable the young people who have had direct experience family members. Only 3 young people stated they safety guidelines. may be more cautious and so have remained home, it should be considered had a family member/friend who had been ill due to that young people may struggle to fully consider the risks, when they feel Covid- 19. they have a lack of negative health outcomes associated with the virus.

• The young people we spoke with had a clear understanding of the behaviours and actions needed to reduce the risk of contraction and “I’m done with it “Yeah, I thought about the risk before I came out today, but transmission. They were observed to Social Distance and most had masks now” (young person 16- you know, you’ve got to live your life…” (young person15- (if 11+) when asked. Valleys) Huddersfield Central) • Young people aged 13+ were not keen on mask wearing, but knew it was The uncertainty and Older young people felt they could mitigate risks by an expectation, stating they generally complied. There was a clear duration of distinction with young people 12 and below, who very much disliked meeting friends in outdoor spaces and social distancing. lockdown appeared impactive. masks, with some refusing to wear them. • The majority of children under 12, independently attending parks, were observed not to socially distance from their friends. Young people aged 13 and above appeared to socially distance more effectively.

• We did speak with some Care Leavers (on outreach as well as through the “I have had to create a ‘bubble’ with other young “I don’t think it exists. Its Care Leavers forum) and Independent Living young people. They people who live alone, like me. There are more of us discussed the loneliness and lack of Social Support that they had something to do with than there should be, but I could not carry on being vaccinations, but I’m ok, alone…” (Independent Living young person 19, anonymous) experienced in ‘lockdown’. As a result, they had continued to visit the because I haven’t had homes of a number of friends. They felt the risk of the virus and ‘rule any…” (Independent Living Some young people had experiences and living breaking’ was not as great as the mental health challenges which resulted Young Person 19) arrangements, which had made lockdown incredibly from ‘prolonged isolation’. challenging. They had to choose between breaking A small amount of young • For the small number of young people who felt the pandemic was a hoax, the rules and maintaining their well-being. people felt the virus was a they had received messages to reinforce this, online. ‘hoax ’.

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Young Peoples reflections on their learning and futures:

What do these the key messages tell us? “There’s already talk we will be the ‘Covid generation’. That when we go for1 job interviews or apply to University, our applications will be worth less, Primary and middle school aged children because our grades were decided, not earned” (young person 15, Huddersfield Central) • None of the 29 younger children who spoke with us had returned to school, prior to the Summer holidays, even if they had the opportunity to do so. They often could not The messages young people are hearing in the press and from adults aren’t answer ‘why’ they had not returned. This may indicate parent/carers made this positive! Although we all need to critically analyse the impact of the pandemic decision on their children’s behalf. and what we can do to reduce negative outcomes, we need to be mindful of the • Although the children did not speak with ‘fear’ about their return to school, there was messages children an young people are receiving. a clear air of ‘uncertainty’ as to what school might be like in September 2020. • Some young people had used the lockdown time to ride their bikes and play

outdoors. Although this has many positives, they did openly state they did not want to “I gave up on the home learning after “I loved doing the online return to school and struggled with the idea of ‘routine’, uniform and formal lessons. about 3 weeks…” work. I can get it out of the

way and then do what I want “You’re silly, man, you’ve all that to Secondary age young people with my time” (young person 14 catch up on now when you go back” • Boys showed a preference for the online learning and felt they generally had ‘kept Denby Dale and Kirkburton) (young person, 14 Holme Valley)

up’ with work set by their school. Some young people • Girls had struggled more with online lessons. They preferred ‘face to face’ teaching Keeping momentum, structure and preferred the flexibility of routine had been hard for many of the and spoke about how they missed seeing others in the school environment. independent study. • Some young people did not have access to the internet or electronic devices at young people we spoke with.

home. • We spoke with one young person who attended a private school. They had received “I managed to get my own apprenticeship taught lessons, online, daily, throughout the lockdown period. None of the young during lockdown. I looked online and

people attending state education described this. contacted them. Its fabricating. I start in “The uniform at my new school has cost my Mum • Some young people stated that whilst their parents had to work from home, they had September” (young person 17, Mirfield) and Dad nearly £200. It’s

taken on caring responsibilities for younger siblings. This had been hard, in terms of so expensive, I just don’t managing their own leaning and at times, wellbeing. This young person had been afforded the know how they think that’s time to focus on pursuing an • A number of young people spoke with loss regarding their exams. They had worked affordable” (young person apprenticeship, their preferred route, 15 Mirfield) hard and invested so much in them. They felt exams should have taken place and rather than exams.

could have been managed safely. Some were relieved to have received predicted grades instead. It is clear some young “I’m moving away from home for the first people have seen finances • A significant number of young people were transitioning from secondary school to time. I don’t know what the rules will be in change and been party to college. Their mood was positive, and they were looking forward to their new the halls or how lectures work. I don’t even ‘struggles’ whilst home. Some have taken on adult academic path. know how there will be a freshers” (young worries and person 18, anonymous). responsibilities. Post 16 young people So much of life is social and experiential. • There was concern for the loss of many of the social aspects of starting Finding ways to provide experience whilst college/university would be lost (Freshers, Communal Living, Clubs & Societies). reducing risk, matters to young people The impact of ‘online’ learning on the ‘value’ of degrees was also raised.

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The importance of outdoor spaces, recreation and play:

“The skate park is great. I’ve been out here “I cycled every day through What do these key messages tell us? just about everyday since we could come out” lockdown. It was the only (young person 15 Holmfirth) thing to do. I went miles” • Young people value the parks, recreational grounds and play spaces (such as skate Each of the skate parks visited were well used (young person 17, Huddersfield parks). They have found these places invaluable as lockdown restrictions have Centre) and very much valued by the young people. relaxed. These areas have provided respite from the isolation of national

restrictions and a place to meet when ‘home/garden visiting’ was not permitted, Some young people have increased/developed their following localised restrictions. “What have I missed the most? physical activity levels in th st • Between 4 July 2020 and 31 July 2020, the most contact we had with young Apart from missing my family, the past 5 months. especially my Grandad, just people was in park land and recreational areas. Very few young people were being able to actually go ‘wandering’ or hanging around on our streets. places” (Child 10, Mirfield) • The young people we spoke with in parks and open spaces, self-reported following the expectations and guidelines of the national lockdown. However, when Local Social experiences which can “We play in the woods most days. Jumping Restrictions were introduced, they reported being less likely to comply. The young be shared with friends are like free running. I broke my wrist the first people’s desire to see their friends, outweighed the risks of meeting them. This in important! Helping young week swinging from a tree. I’ve only had my their opinion, appeared to be because they saw meeting outdoors in fresh air, people navigate returning to pot taken off this week” (young person from activities, safely, is important the valley’s 13) where they had space to distance as lowered risk. There did not appear to be a to them. ‘fear’ that they may carry the virus to their family. When considering ‘risk’ this Young people spoke about finding their own seemed to be focussed around themselves and not their networks. fun, in woods and quarries. On hot days • Young people did struggle to see why more play activities and outdoor sessions they swam in rivers/open water… could not be happening in their local parks and recs. Some wondered if the areas could be better used with small ‘bubble’ based coaching or fitness sessions,

“It means so much to us, to see especially whilst other ‘indoor facilities’ were closed. Some young people who our mates, we sit out in this “We know its safe to jump from the weir, it’s attended private coaching or football clubs were now starting to once again attend. rain” (young person 15, Lindley) really deep… How do we know? However, not all had access to these opportunities. Indoor/covered places to We’ve just always done it…” • Many of the young people spoke of ‘missing’ activities like visiting the cinema, socialise, would be (young person 14 Sands, Holmfirth) eating out, going to the shopping malls and trips/visits. They discussed how their

appreciated, especially as the parents and carers had not allowed them to participate in some of these activities weather becomes cold. Ensuring young people have knowledge and skills to make ‘safe decisions’ based on ‘keeping them safe’. regarding independent play and adolescent • In each of the 3 parks we visited, the children/young people asked why ‘every other’ ‘risk taking’ and how to manage if they get “I’ve been able to go back to of the swings had been removed. We explained this was to support social into difficulties, appears to be important. Football training this week, I’ve distancing. The young people seemed unaware of the reasoning and saddened that

missed it so much” they couldn’t sit with friends. They accepted the reasons but were hopeful these

(young person 16 Denby Dale & could be reinstated soon. This small example highlighted one of many decisions, Kirkburton) where young people had felt unsure of ‘why’ it had been made. Being part of a sports team is • Some young people did discuss their hours spent on gaming and devices had more than the sport itself! increased. They did not feel ‘concerned’ about this.

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Next Steps…

We are not claiming this engagement is representative of all children and young people in Kirklees. It’s the views and opinions of the young people who volunteered their time to speak with us ‘out and about’.

However, it offers some insight into the ‘world’ and lives of some local young people.

To stay safe and manage the ‘risks’ Education, training Maintaining our physical and of Covid-19 and employment mental health

Young people are hearing lots of Have further conversations with young Be assured our parks and open spaces people about the guidance they are choosing negative messages about the impact of are a much loved and incredibly valuable to follow and why? Covid-19 on their current learning and resource! possible futures. Can we change the

Consider what safety behaviours can be language and tone to one of confidence, Consider how recreational activities and communicated to mitigate the risks which resilience, adaptability and growth? supported play sessions could occur, may occur, when young people don’t stick safely in outdoor spaces. Young people There seems to have been little have suggestions and ideas on how to do with guidelines-such as meeting in larger grou ps/from multiple homes. discussion around positive change, this. Listen to these and work with ‘what alternate career paths and how the can be done’, rather than what cannot. Help young people understand how to situation could be advantageous. Let’s start involving young people in the critically analyse sources of information to Consider how we communicate with young distinguish what is accurate or safer. Help planning and strategies to address some people. Our conversations indicate lots of develop their ability to make informed of the challenges that have arisen. decisions are being made ‘for young decisions based on reliable sources. people and not with young people’.

Throughout September 2020, we will be continuing conversations with young people, in the community. We will return to some of the places we have visited and go to some of the places we have not.

We will listen to the young people’s stories of whatever is important to them` and communicate what they tell us, to our decision makers and partners.

An addendum report will be produced by mid-October 2020 to share these key messages.

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The Our Voice Team Brian Jackson House

Mezzanine Level-Office M7

New North Parade Huddersfield HD1 5JP

The Our Voice webpage is here: https://www.kirkleessafeguardingchildren.co.uk/young-peoples-voice/ You can also follow us, on our Socials:

07814791744 / 07976497968 OurVoice Kirklees @YPOurVoice ourvoicekirklees [email protected]