Deputy Mayor joins Youth Commission for their Big Conversation Conference 2025

On Wednesday 24 September, the North Yorkshire Youth Commission ran their Big Conversation Conference at The Priory Street Centre, in York.

The Youth Commission enables a diverse group of young people, from across the region, to inform, support and challenge the work of the York and North Yorkshire Mayor, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, North Yorkshire Police, and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

At the conference youth commission members presented their recent peer research results and recommendations. Through their ‘Big Conversation’ this year they have gathered the views of 1,875 young people aged 10-25 from across York and North Yorkshire on six key Policing, Fire and Crime priorities:

Along with Youth Commission members, in the audience were the Deputy Mayor for Policing Fire and Crime Jo Coles, Assistant Chief Constable Catherine Clarke, Director of Capabilities, Community Risk and Resilience for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Thomas Hirst, police officers, fire service officers, schoolteachers, local council staff and many other key regional multi-agency partners.

Following the presentations there were group discussions around the key priorities and how to take the recommendations forward. A youth commission member acted as chair on each table to present their table’s suggestions to the audience.

York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, Jo Coles, said:

“Our brilliant North Yorkshire Youth Commission have engaged with over 1800 other young people on police and crime priorities over the last year as part of their Big Conversation which is a fantastic effort. Some of the key findings include the importance of safe spaces, supporting young people to build healthy relationships and the need to make it easier to report crime and improve online safety.

“Their findings need collaborative effort so at our event last week we started work with partners on how to do that. Ultimately working together, we will make faster progress on making the region safer for everyone who lives, work and visits us in the future.”

Emily Balvins, Project Manager, Leaders Unlocked said:

“It was great to see the Youth Commission share their peer-research results and recommendations for change with Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime and many other partners this afternoon.

“Making them aware of the topics young people across the region see as their priorities is so important, and we hope they all take on the recommendations presented and work with the Youth Commission to help improve life for young people in York and North Yorkshire. Well done to all the members that took part!”

The conference concluded with attendees being invited to a digital pledge to action and being informed the Youth Commissions report is due to be published later this November.

To find out more information about the Youth Commission please visit: https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/for-you/young-people/youth/