How’s life in Rochdale?

The borough’s children are speaking out about life in Rochdale, being frank with decision-makers about what’s good and bad about living locally.

Childhood experiences will be debated between young people and professionals at the annual Big Listen conference taking place this week (8-12 November 2010).

Every year hundreds of children across the borough come together to have their say and steer local services about changes they’d like to see made to improve their quality of life in the future.

The Big Listen is aimed at children 0-13 years where and schools, community and faith groups will be getting involved in activities all week focusing on the theme of ‘enjoy and achieve’. This year, children’s centres across the borough are doing their own version called ‘the Big Listen’s Little Listen’, allowing even the views of toddlers to be explored and recorded.

The main event of the week will take place on Thursday 11 November 2010 at Middleton Arena where it’s expected that over 120 children will discuss issues such as school life, home life, their future aspirations and generally how much their enjoying living in Rochdale right now.

Teresa Fitzsimons, cabinet member for Children, Schools and Families at Rochdale Borough Council is excited about children helping to shape future services for the better: “We want children to be proud of where they live, to be able to say that they are enjoying life, and to be able to tell us what needs to change if they are not enjoying life. It’s important that we give children a voice and listen to what they have to say. Often adults make decisions on their behalf without consulting them. At the Big Listen our borough’s children are given their voice!”

Cheryl Eastwood, Executive Director for Children, Schools and Families at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The Big Listen Week is about finding out what local children think about local services and life in general. We want to take their views into account whenever we’re planning and providing services for them and their families. As well as this being an important day we hope that it will be fun for the children as well.”

The information gathered from all the young participants will contribute to the new Children and Young People’s Plan due to come into effect in April 2011.