Children And Young People's Plan

The Medway Children’s Trust wants children and young people in Medway who:

• are safe and cared for
• succeed in learning
• thrive

It is these three outcomes that the members of Medway Children’s Trust will collectively seek to achieve.

In 2006, in Medway’s first Children and Young People’s Plan, we said that we would be “making life better for children in Medway”.

For many children and young people, life has got better.

• More children are doing better at school.
• More young people are in employment, training or further and higher education when they leave school.
• More children and young people are taking part in positive activities such as sport, creative arts and leisure.
• Fewer children are suffering harm or neglect, and stronger safeguarding arrangements are in place to protect those at risk.
• Fewer children are in public care, and those that are have better arrangements leading to better outcomes. 

This is all good news.

It reflects the efforts of families and the professional dedication of all those who work with them. It reflects the hard work and positive endeavours of Medway’s children and young people themselves.

But there is still much to do.

• Not every child is doing well at school.
• The health and emotional wellbeing of too many children is a cause for concern.
• Children and young people who are disabled face difficulties in accessing everyday opportunities alongside their peers
• Small numbers of young people are at risk of engaging in unhealthy, anti-social or dangerous behaviours, or have complex needs that require multiple support
• Young people tell us that many do not feel safe, and more do not feel listened to or valued by the adult community.

In Medway, as elsewhere in England, the quality of life and the future life chances of children and young people are still highly dependant on the stability and financial circumstances of the individual family or the local community where they live.

Every child deserves to be safe and loved and have a happy and healthy childhood, free from harm – and every child should have the chance to make the most of their promise and potential.

That is our goal, and this document sets out how we intend to achieve it.