East Staffordshire Children's Trust Board was formed in November 2006 and now meets bi-monthly. The Board has put together a Children and Young People's Plan for East Staffordshire through wide consultation with partners working with children and young people.
The latest news from the Trust Board is:
Children's Fund Cultural Activities Programme 
This aims to increase access to leisure and cultural activities for children aged 8-14 yrs and reduce isolation of various cultural groups and help develop community cohesion. Finance wise the project is for 86,107 per year for a total contract period of 2 years. This has now gone through the tendering process and negotiations have now concluded between Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, the Burton Chinese Association and various other groups to get the project up and running in January 2009.
Shadow Trust Board
On October 2nd, the formulation of the Shadow Trust Board continued with over 70 children and young people from various youth forums, secondary, primary and special needs schools as well as some young offenders coming together in a 'speed dating' event to discuss issues and determine what are the key priorities for them. This exercise was highly illuminating with children and young people's priorities differing from agencies. Thus, during the children's plan refresh, it has been determined to embed an Action Plan to ensure that regular dialogue is undertaken between the shadow Trust Board and the Children's Trust Board in order that the C+YPP can be held accountable by both the Board and the Shadow Board.
The Teenage Pregnancy Action Group
This sub- group has identified several areas, such as 'Clinic in a box', where existing provision is not as extensive as in previous years. However, expectation of the service remains high, and working closely with the PCT to address these shortcomings, it is likely that in the coming months the service will be returned to previous levels.
At each meeting the Board also receives regular updates from East Staffordshire Community and Learning Partnerships, updates on progress with ContactPoint and the Common Assessment Framework in East Staffordshire and updates from both the Staffordshire Children's Trust and Staffordshire County Council's Children and Life Long Learning Directorate.
East Staffordshire Borough Council
For more information, please contact:
jacqueline.hodgkinson@eaststaffsbc.co.ukor call 01283 508 779