The Commission on Young Lives parliamentary seminar Feb 2023

Commission on Young Lives Parliamentary Seminar: Supporting and protecting teenagers at risk of exploitation and harm - 1^st February 2023

The Commission on Young Lives recently held their parliamentary seminar - Supporting and protecting teenagers at risk of exploitation and harm.  The seminar was an opportunity to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the Commission's final report setting out a national plan for government, the police, schools, and others to tackle the deep-rooted problems in the children's social care, education, family support, children's mental health, and criminal justice systems.

The event focussed on solutions and approaches to protect teenagers at risk of exploitation and serious violence and the support needed for them to succeed, examining the policy changes required, nationally and locally.

Chaired by Jason Farrell, Sky News Home Affairs Editor, keynote speakers included: Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Home Secretary and Munira Wilson MP, Education Spokesperson for Liberal Democrats and Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, Minister of State for Prisons and Probation.

Followed by a panel of experts including:

• Professor Hannah Smithson, Manchester Metropolitan University;
• Ashley McDougall, National Audit Office;
• Damian Dallimore, VRU Greater Manchester;
• Steve Chalke, Oasis Charitable Trust,
• Peter Babudu, Youth Endowment Fund,
• Junior Smart, St Giles Trust,
• Kim McGuinness, Police and Crime Commissioner Northumbria,
• James Robertson, DCMS

Superintendent Simon Rotherham, Deputy Lead for the Children & Young Persons portfolio in National Police Chiefs Council.