Damian Allen, Knowsley Council's Executive Director of Children and Family Services has been shadowed by two members of Knowsley's Youth Parliament earlier this week.  The 14- year olds helped him to make the many decisions he has to wrestle with during his working day.

 

Leah Weaver who attends Kirkby Sports College and Lucy Taylor who goes to Bowring Community Sports College, accompanied Damian throughout his working day. This involved Damian being observed, at first hand, as he went about his work.

 

During the day, Damian explained what he is doing, outlined his job, answered questions and allowed the two young people  to get a flavour of what his role involves.

 

The 11million Take-Over initiative was developed by the Children’s Commissioner for England, Professor Sir Al Ainsley-Green. The Commissioner wants to encourage the country’s 11 million young people to get involved in the day so that they can shape all the decisions that affect their lives.

 

Damian Allen fully enjoyed working with Leah and Lucy: “I fully support the Commissioner’s ambition to encourage young people to get involved in initiatives of this nature.

 

“As a local authority, Knowsley is fully committed to listening to what young people have to say. We recognise that young people are experts on the issues that affect their lives.

 

“As well as working with me, Leah and Lucy joined me on two visits; the first to the Cherry Tree Children’s Centre in Halewood where I will be meeting the centre’s staff and young people who use services there.

 

“The second was to the Kirkby Catholic Centre for Learning which is currently being built. It is scheduled to open in January 2010. I was particularly interested to hear Lucy and Leah’s views on the changes we’re making to education here in Knowsley.”

 

Lucy added: “This was a really exciting opportunity for me and Leah to see how decisions that affect our lives are actually made. The Department of Children and Family Services does a lot for the children and young people of Knowsley and, just to have one day working with Damian has been a great experience.

 

“We hope to see the perception of young people changed from negative to positive and to show how young people can have a positive input into services for children and young people.”

 

Speaking after their visit to the Centre for Learning, Leah Weaver said: “I think taking Damian’s role in the Council is very important and needs a wide range of knowledge and skills. It isn’t something you could just do without a lot of experience.

 

“Damian is always improving his ideas in Knowsley and I’d like to walk in his footsteps.”

 

 

Ends

 

For more information, please phone Tom Walker from Knowsley Council's Communications Team on 0151 443 3224.

 

Leah Weaver is aged 14 and attends Kirkby Sports College, Brookfield Campus. She lives in the Southdene area of Kirkby and would like to become a sports therapist when she is older. Leah enjoys playing sports, including football, netball and badminton. Leah has been involved with Knowsley Youth Parliament for a year and has recently attended the Leading the Future Conference in Liverpool where she spoke to delegates about Knowsley Youth Parliament campaigns   

 

Lucy Taylor is aged 14 and attends Bowring Community Sports College in Huyton. She has been an active member of Knowsley Youth Parliament for two years and is currently studying for an ICT Diploma. Lucy enjoys History and Geography but is unsure what she wants to do when she is older. Her interests include reading, going out with friends and playing on her computer. Lucy hopes to become a Young Advisor next year, like her older sister Lynsey Taylor (who was one of the first Knowsley Young Advisors).