Invitation to make a pledge to help every child in Norfolk to flourish

Issued on behalf of the Children and Young People's Strategic Alliance:

Organisations and businesses from all over Norfolk are being invited to pledge to make at least one new promise or commitment this year to help change things for the better for children and young people.

The invitation has come as the Norfolk Children and Young People Strategic Alliance (CYPSA) officially launched the Flourishing in Norfolk Strategy and the Flourish Pledge at an event attended by representatives of more than 25 county organisations. 

CYPSA is a Norfolk partnership of organisations working with children and young people and their families including councils, health services, police, and the voluntary sector.

At the event yesterday, which was called Together - Flourishing in Norfolk, representatives each pledged their shared ambition to make Norfolk an even better place to grow up and flourish for children and young people. This commitment will be followed in the coming weeks with specific pledges of what will be done to bring about real change in the coming year.

Flourish reflects what young people have said is most important to them: their family and friends, access to learning, opportunities to lead a good life, being understood, building resilience, respect for their individuality, feeling safe and being healthy. 

Euan Duffield, Member of Youth Parliament for North Norfolk, Broadland and Great Yarmouth, said: "In order for Flourish to succeed, we need everyone to play their part and for the whole of Norfolk to work together.

"Creating opportunities is a key element and we need those in both the public and private sector to get involved, particularly with access to apprenticeships and work experience. 20% of those who gave their views in the Mark Your Mark campaign gave jobs and opportunities as their key issue for young people.

"As youth parliament members we have pledge to champion the voices of children and young people and run a county-wide campaign for children and young people's mental health and emotional well-being. What will your pledge be"?

Sara Tough, Chair of the Norfolk Children and Young People's Strategic Alliance and Executive Director of Children's Services at Norfolk County Council said: "We know Norfolk is a great place to grow up and we want it to be a county where every child and young person can flourish.

"This collective ambition by so many organisations, and the partnership strategy which sits alongside it, brings together everyone working in services for children and families.

"Young people have been at the heart of developing the flourish ambition, telling us what is most important to them and what they want and need to flourish."

The Flourish Pledge could be supporting young people's careers; involving young people in decision making, or providing new activities or opportunities for young people. 

It's free to sign up, support is available to help organisations plan and deliver their pledge, and a colourful Flourish Pledge badge is available for participants to display and use in their signage, online presence, and printed materials. 

Anyone from schools and colleges to small community groups and venues, businesses, charities, local councils, leisure and tourism providers, smaller teams within bigger organisations are welcome to join.

You can get more ideas and information about the Flourish Pledge and the Flourishing in Norfolk strategy at www.norfolk.gov.uk/flourish or emailing flourish.pledge@norfolk.gov.uk.

To see the Flourish Pledges being made by organisations across Norfolk follow #flourishpledge on Twitter.