PCC leads Thinking Differently challenge on support for young people

We can’t continue to do what we’ve always done and expect a different outcome.

That was the message from Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden today as he challenged partners to “think differently” about how to sustain long-term positive outcomes for children and young people in Nottinghamshire.

PCC Godden led the call to action from private, public and voluntary and community sector groups, saying it is “in everyone’s interests” to start thinking of new ways to work more collaboratively, with a ten-year vision to create safer and more prosperous Nottinghamshire, where all young people can thrive.

Speaking to more than 120 stakeholders at the Thinking Differently Conference, hosted by the PCC in Partnership with It’s in Nottingham Foundation and the Raleigh Education Trust, PCC Godden outlined how many organisations, particularly in the voluntary and community sector, were reliant on short-term government funding.

He said this made it difficult to sustain change when supporting some of the most vulnerable children in our communities.

It comes as PCC Godden has spent the last few months engaging with businesses across the county, including Experian, Capital One, DHP Family and others who not only have a corporate social responsibility but a desire to work more closely with communities to make a positive impact.

“The problems in short term funding are well-rehearsed,” said PCC Godden. “This impacts greatly on our voluntary and community sector, as well as public sector colleagues who are working tirelessly to support some of the most vulnerable children in our communities

“We can’t continue to do what we’ve always done and expect a different outcome.

“Today is about thinking and doing differently so we can achieve sustainability in outcomes for our communities and children over a 10-year period. This means we have the opportunity to impact on a whole generation.”

The keynote inspirational speaker at the conference was former Grateful Dead roadie Stephen Greene, CBE, who is the Chief Executive Officer of RockCorps, a company which has overseen the production of over 50 volunteer-exclusive concerts worldwide, featuring music artists such as Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, Snoop Dogg and Rihanna.

This concept was showcased of as a prime example of how thinking differently can create real social change, as it has seen over 200,000 young people worldwide volunteer to do four hours of community work, such as working at a food bank or litter picking, in exchange for free concert tickets.

Guests at the event at the Trent Conference Centre, Lenton, also included the High Sherriff of Nottingham Ed Attenborough and Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Education.

The event culminated in stakeholders making pledges toward the common goal to collaborate to ensure children and young people are safe and secure, thrive in education and learning and promote health and wellbeing.

It comes as Nottingham city currently has some of the highest school exclusion rates in England and Wales, and in some areas of Nottinghamshire children are growing up in some of the highest areas of deprivation in the country, and with poor health outcomes.

PCC Godden added: “This is our chance to make a difference for our children and young people and create an environment where we come together to support them.

“We know that when children are excluded from schools they have limited life chances and are more likely to be involved in crime, so it’s vital that we look at what we can do to prevent such high exclusions and look at how we can do things differently.

“We can’t close the door on these young people, we have to start opening more doors.”

Phil Willott, Director of Education for the Raleigh Education Trust, said: “I think Nottinghamshire needs to do things differently because the data shows we should be considering the causes of issues and really tackling them first and foremost.

“My hope is that we have a common goal which is shared by all sectors and focuses on supporting the young people and families within our communities.

“I pledge to continue to help drive this initiative for the benefit of the young people across the City and County.”