Agenda and draft minutes

Present: Jamie Wells (WNC), Aimee Luck (WNC), Sadie (Public Health)

Poppy (Delapre Abbey), Morcea Walker, Haroon (NSB), Tracy (NSG), Lola (NSG), Kyla (NIA), Skye (NA), Bella (GA), Dan (WPS)

Apologies: Cllr Baker, Henry (CS), Hannah (KC), Michaella (WPS), Kayla (WPS), Lissy (NA), Kamron (BC), Cllr Smith

Recap of minutes and actions; reminders included-

Ø  To send over numbers to be added to the WhatsApp group

Sadie presented slides to the group explaining the local plan; to be shared with minutes

. Public Health are consulting on the Local Plan which guides the future development of the town. It is important to capture young people’s views as this plan will be in place from 2026 – 2040 and will impact their lives.

The slides give an overview of what a Local Plan is and the steps to creating it.

The forum were then asked to consider;

1.    What is important for you on the following themes? (Housing and community; landscape and design; employment and education; transport; housing design; pollution)

2.    How can we make sure the plan has a healthy impact on these areas?

3.    Is there anything else that you would want to tell us about how these themes affect you?

Young people discussed, and summary of views captured from forum members below:

Ø  Transport is an issue for schools; buses being late or not arriving, it’s too expensive for a lot of people.

Ø  Housing design: a lot of new housing areas are ugly and poorly designed/built.

Ø  Pollution; towns like Northampton have more and more cars on the road contributing to pollution

Ø  Parks; gang culture is taking over public green spaces and a lot of young people don’t feel safe. Parks and play areas also need to be cleaner; vapes, balloons, and glass are a constant problem.

Ø  Community spaces; There isn’t much in the area and most people feel they need to travel out to town. This is either because there isn’t anything available or it hasn’t been promoted well enough. We need more activities like bowling, ice skating and other activities/things to do. There are enough open spaces.

Ø  Employment; young people mainly get jobs through their family. It’s hard to go out alone as a young person and find work.

Ø  Walking or cycling; people don’t feel safe because of the gangs. There aren’t many safe routes or enough places to store your bike safely.

Ø  Food; too many fast food options and not enough healthy ones. More fast food stores popping up near schools is unacceptable. People should be given better options.

Yasmin and Poppy

Poppy-Showed a prestation slide via Teams

Heritage consultancy works are currently working with Delpare Abbeyto change the 19^th central stable.Delapre Abbeny is over 900 years old and was originally a nunnery, but is now a heritage sight and hosts a range of events and activities.

The project is called “stable future” and aims to create a vibrant cultural experience that has a positive wellbeing impact on the area, contributing to the wider regeneration of the town.

The young people were asked a series of questions and key points from the discussion are captured below:

What does wellbeing mean to you?

Ø  Upholding peoples mental and physical health.

Ø  Personal wellbeing and community wellbeing For example, personal wellbeing is happiness and a good state of mind, whereas community wellbeing could be harmony between groups, everyone feeling connected; plus having a strong culture in areas is key; like music and food

What effects wellbeing”?

Ø  Having a place where you feel welcomed

Ø  Nature

Ø  Having things in the area to look forward to.

Ø   Northampton can feel like a negative place with lack of things happening. The group also acknowledges communication may be the barrier to this

Ø  Social media fixates on negative press and bad incidents are shared and stand out more than positive messages which can give a bad impression.

What would help bring young people to heritage sights?

Ø  Events relating to the royal family, especially with the coronation.

Ø  Supporting biodiversity; something to make the place look more attractive linking to nature.

Ø  Events linked to popular tv shows such as ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Queen Charlotte’ – this was a very popular idea amongst the group.

Ø  Fashion events, going through local historic fashion.

Ø  Opportunities for small community and family events such as birthday parties.

Final comments from heritage consultancy

We are in the phase of design and are looking for a youth panel to help feedback and provide thoughts on the design. If anyone is interested, please speak to Aimee/Jamie who will pass on details.

Aimee to connect interesting members to Poppy about joining the panel.

Moved to next meeting due agenda running behind

See attached action plan with agreed projects and events.

Forum members agreed to continue to be part of; Heritage Tours, Youth Summit, UK Parliament week and Holocaust Memorial Day.

Nothing further to share

31^st May – Activity and Problem solving Day at Mereway Fire Station.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, this has been cancelled due to low number of forum members confirmed to attend. Appreciate this is exam season for most young people in the group.

Action: All to advise if Wednesday 14 June, 4.30pm is a good date to reschedule or prefer to skip a month and return for July, after exams.