The Children and Young People's Trust (CYPT) is re-writing it's strategic plan for delivering it's services from 2009 for three years, this is called the Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP). They are undertaking a comprehensive consultation of all interested parties, including the community and voluntary groups, parents and carers, children and young people, staff working for the trust, and all other stakeholders. The information gathered from these will be reflected in a new Children and Young People's Plan which will be published in April 2009.

What does the CYPT do?

Brighton & Hove's Children and Young People's Trust is responsible for all services for children, young people and their parents, families and carers. The CYPT was created in October 2006 - so 2 years in they are looking at what's gone well and what they can do better.

The CYPT divides the city into 3 geographical areas - East, West and Central where they deliver local and 'joined up' services:

• Early Years e.g. Children's Centres.
• Young People e.g. Youth Support and Connexions.
• Schools & Communities e.g. community mental health services, school nurses and education welfare.
• Safeguarding - family support and child protection.

They also provide specialist services across the city including:

• The Seaside View team for children with a disability.
• Fostering & Adoption services.
• Support for children with special educational needs.

All of the council's schools are a part of the CYPT and they work closely with partners from across the council, in health services, the police and in the community and voluntary sector.

The CYPT's Vision, quite simply, is:

'B&H should be the best place in the country for children and young people to grow up. We want to ensure all our children and young people have the best possible start in life, so that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential, whatever that might be.'

The CYPT recognises that it doesn't bring up children - parents do. Their job is to work with parents and families so that children and young people are:

• Healthy
• Stay Safe
• Enjoy & Achieve
• Make a positive contribution
• Achieve economic well being

What is the Children and Young People's Plan?

The Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) is a single, strategic overarching plan for all local services for children and young people aged up to 19 years.

The CYPP supports the work of the Children & Young People's Trust by defining clear priorities for services, identifying the actions and activities needed to achieve them and to ensure delivery. These priorities aim to secure improvements in outcomes for all children and young people in Brighton & Hove built around the Government's five Every Child Matters outcomes:

• Being Healthy - enjoying good physical and mental health, and living a healthy lifestyle.
• Staying Safe - being protected from harm and neglect and growing up able to look after themselves.
• Enjoying & Achieving - getting the most out of life and developing broad skills for adulthood.
• Achieving Economic Well-being - overcoming socio-economic disadvantages to achieve their full potential in life
• Making a Positive Contribution - to the community and to society, and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour.

Below we have attached the last CYPP (2006-09) - full version and summary version, and last year's annual performance report showing how the CYPT is doing in each of its priorities.

How can you be involved?

At this year's Funplex event there will be an opportunity to take part in the CYPP consultation with parents, carers and children. We will be taking the opportunity to ask what being a parent, carer or child in Brighton and Hove is like for you, linking this to the 5 Every Child Matters outcomes. Please come along on the day with or without your children and help us make a difference by having your say.

If you can't come along there will still be a further opportunity to have your say when the draft CYPP goes out for consultation in December. We will publish the plan and a questionnaire on our website, for parents and carers to be able to read and comment on for consideration of amendments, before the final version will be presented to the Children and Young People's Trust Board early 2009.

For more information please contact Tasha on tasha@bhparentsforum.org or 07795336333.