Young people in the Petteril area will now have a clear voice when it comes to local issues.
Their work has resulted in a young person’s working group which will influence the decision making of Cumberland Council’s Petteril Community Panel. There will also be two co-opted panel member roles created especially for 14-to-17-year-olds.
Members of the Cumbria Youth Co-research Collective have worked closely with the panel, agreeing how it can encourage and include the views and needs of young people in its decision making. The participants, aged 14 to 18, presented their report at the recent panel meeting.
Cllr Justin McDermott, Executive Member for Public Health and Communities, said: “I couldn't be prouder of our young people and those that worked to produce this innovative report - and I am proud to be following that up with meaningful action, not just words.
"I made a clear commitment to our young people to give them a voice in our community and in our decision making processes, and giving them a place on our community panel does exactly that. This is a big step forward in my mission to empower communities to make where they live and work even better.
"I urge young people living in the area to speak with our community development team to get involved. Your voice will be heard and you will make a difference - no one knows what you need to do well better than you do yourself!"
Cllr Lisa Hinton, Chair of Petteril Community Panel, added: “This piece of work will influence our whole decision-making process, and I am extremely proud of the young people involved.
“We can’t say we are a listening council unless we strive to see things from all perspectives. The only way we could see a young person’s perspective was for them to help us and get involved, which they have done fantastically well.
“The working group will be a voice for the young and will help us in creating projects together. This work is invaluable, and I thank everyone who is involved.”
Caroline Taylor-Beswick, Chief Executive at Carlisle Youth Zone, which delivered the project, said: “The potential of young people is often underestimated. They have helped the panel better understand their needs and priorities, and been at the heart of the process through the new Cumbria Youth Co-research Collective.
“It is important to acknowledge the significance of the panel choosing to invest in this approach, and how it has affected the young people’s confidence and development. The outcomes are transformational."
Petteril Community Panel members also agreed to adopt the Lundy model of child participation. This framework pledges to give children a safe space to freely express their views, and to act on those views.
The CYCC’s report can be found at: cumberland.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-12/petteril_youth_friendly_co-research_engagement_project.pdf
Petteril Community Panel covers the wards of Botcherby, Currock, Harraby South, Harraby North and Upperby. Find out more about the panel here: Petteril Community Panel | Cumberland Council
To find out more about youth participation, or any other element of Petteril Community Panel's work, email [email protected]
Image: https://dmscdn.vuelio.co.uk/publicitem/6993722d-83b2-4e92-9f51-cfc85abddf7f/webversion
Pictured with two members of Carlisle Youth Zone are: Panel members Barrie Marskell, Cllr Robert Betton, Cllr Lucy Patrick, Fiona Fergus and Cllr Chris Wills; Chris Jones-King and Jackie Rudd of Cumberland Council; Prof Amanda Taylor-Beswick of the University of Cumbria; and Cllr Justin McDermott, Cumberland Executive Member for Public Health and Communities.