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TV presenter June Sarpong fielded questions from an audience of around twenty young people in October 2007 at an NSPCC event in London which asked them what children want the Government to do about violence, at school, in their homes, and on the streets.
Young people are demanding tougher action from Prime Minister Gordon Brown to tackle the violence blighting their lives, says NSPCC.
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, took part in a ‘question time’ style session, alongside NSPCC chief executive Dame Mary Marsh and Children’s Commissioner Al Aynsley-Green.
The top 10 ideas presented to the panel were:
• Easy to access help lines and individual support for abused young people
• Tougher sentences for adults who commit acts of domestic violence
• A campaign to challenge the social acceptability of binge drinking
• Police to target criminal ‘kingpins’ who sell drugs and guns to young people
• Engaging parents in tackling gang culture, especially through family support services
• More real-life role models for young people, to show they can have a fulfilled and happy future
• Schools to take bullying seriously – don’t just write a policy, act on it
• An anti bullying strategy has to have the whole school behind it
• Listen to both the bullies and the person being bullied
• Young people to be involved in resolving bullying incidents
Dame Mary Marsh, director and chief executive of the NSPCC said:
“The moving and inspiring ideas presented by these young people clearly show that violence, in all its forms, is a big problem for many children and that they are crying out for more help.We asked Gordon Brown to take action to protect young people from violence during his first 100 days in office, and although some progress has been made there is still a pressing need for more work to be done.
These young people have made it clear to us that they expect action on this issue, so let’s hope the Prime Minister is listening.”
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Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Registered charity number 216401. NSPCC, charity registered in Scotland, charity number SC037717.