Travel and Tourism students at Cheshire College – South & West, Joshua Anderson and Francesca Meichsner had the unique opportunity to present their insights on safeguarding priorities to some of the region’s most influential decision-makers.
The event, held on 28th January at the Ellesmere Port Portal, was organised by the Youth Federation and brought together representatives from across local safeguarding and public services, including Cheshire Police, The Countess of Chester Hospital, and Children’s Services.
As part of the event, Joshua focused on the issue of safeguarding young people’s mental health while Francesca highlighted the importance of making young people feel safe and supported in the workplace.
Their presentations were part of an ongoing initiative to ensure young people’s voices are directly integrated into safeguarding policy and decisions in Cheshire West and Cheshire.
Chris Baggs, Safeguarding, Behaviour, and Welfare Manager at Cheshire College expressed his pride in the students commenting “It is vitally important that the voice of young people is heard when making decisions on policy that will directly impact them in their daily lives, and Joshua and Francesca highlighted two key issues for young people.”
The event was attended by senior leaders in the field, including, the Executive Director of Children and Families at Cheshire West and Chester; Detective Chief Superintendent of Cheshire Police; Associate Director of Quality and Safeguarding at NHS Cheshire & Merseyside and many more. Their involvement underscored the importance of collaboration between young people and professionals in tackling safeguarding challenges.
Kerry Joinson, Travel and Tourism Lecturer at Cheshire College and a member of the board of trustees for the Youth Federation praised the students’ professionalism, saying: “The students excelled beyond expectations. Their level of preparation and commitment was second to none. I am incredibly proud of them – they truly represented the college with pride and professionalism, making a real impact on an issue that matters to our community.”
Kevin, Director of Operations at the Youth Federation commented, “The feedback from the Safeguarding Children’s Partnership has been incredible. Josh and Fran were outstanding, and their contributions around safeguarding really stood out. Huge credit to Kerry and the team for the amazing work they’ve done in supporting them. Their achievements are something to be proud of.”
The Youth Federation continues to collaborate with Cheshire College, providing students with valuable opportunities to engage in important community issues and influence policies that directly impact their lives.
