Agenda item

To receive a presentation from the Looked After Children’s (LAC) Council in respect of recent activities and renewed priorities.

The Chair confirmed that the recording had stopped prior to introducing this agenda item.

Consideration was then given to a presentation by representatives of the Looked After Children’s Council which included a summary of recent LAC Council activities and highlighted the ongoing Capital of Culture consultations, plans for a VIP Summer Fest to be held in July 2022 and Christmas craft sessions.

The presentation also included specific reference to the Rotherham LAC Council’s Free Leisure Pass Campaign for a free leisure pass for Rotherham’s Looked After and Leaving Care young people.  The pass would give Looked After and Leaving Care young people aged 13-21/24 years the opportunity to engage in free leisure activities including gym and swimming across the Borough.

The benefits of such activity supported a healthy lifestyle, both physically and emotionally, and would feed into the statutory targets for the promotion of Health for Looked After Children.  Positive mental health was promoted through exercise and social interaction as well as building friendships and involvement in the community.

The pass could provide a new start for Looked After Children following the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, which had seen an increase of obesity in both adults and young people as well as an increase in mental health cases; physical activity has been proven to improve peoples’ mental health.

It was highlighted that a number of other local authorities within the Yorkshire and Humber already provided free leisure passes.

The young people were thanked for their excellent presentation.

To aid discussion on the next agenda item, members of the Panel sought the views of the young people on a range of issues relating to free leisure passes:-

-        Ideally access to leisure facilities would be across the Borough so all LAC could access them

-        It could be any leisure activity but the importance of young people being able to swim was stressed

-        It was not just for the physical and mental benefits but for the social interaction particularly following the lockdowns; it would be another free space for young people to be themselves with other young people (if they chose to)

-        The type of activity would vary from person-to-person with some choosing individual activities and other participating in group activities

-        Not just physical activities but social activities e.g. cinema

Councillor Sheppard reported that the Council was currently looking at the cultural offer as part of the Children’s Capital of Culture and also carrying out a review of the Rothercard which could link into Rotherham’s Looked After Children and Leaving Care Young People being able to access other elements of Rotherham’s culture and arts programme across the Borough at a discounted rate/special performance.  He would welcome any feedback to incorporate into the consultation process.

It was noted that different activities took place on a daily/weekly basis.  Leisure Services could provide access to an activity that already existed or would try and develop something specific as a taster session if requested. 

Kathryn Mudge, South Yorkshire Sports Foundation, asked if the young people had considered the opportunity to develop skills further with sport and physical activity with qualifications?  The Foundation could provide mentoring.  

It was suggested that the LAC Council carry out a questionnaire with their peers to ascertain their views as to:-

·        what leisure activities they would like the opportunity to take part in

·        were there any other barriers other than cost to accessing the leisure centres

·        given South Yorkshire Sports Foundation offer, would any young people be interested in improving their skills and becoming role models

Resolved:-

1.  That the update be noted.

2.  That the LAC Council carry out a questionnaire amongst their peers on the lines suggested above.