The Barnet Children's Partnership Board met virtually on Thursday 29 January 2026 to discuss a range of issues concerning children and young people in the borough. Key discussions included updates from elected youth representatives on their campaigns, a proposal for a new youth representative model for the Board, and the revised Terms of Reference for the Board itself. The Board also noted its Forward Work Programme.

Barnet Elected Youth Representatives - Campaign Update

Young people presented updates on their ongoing campaigns, covering areas such as mental health and wellbeing support in schools, tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) with a new youth panel focused on domestic violence experiences, and addressing knife crime by examining perceptions and fears. Other campaigns included the formation of a new All Schools Council Network by Schools Council representatives and initiatives for better financial education in schools, focusing on Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education. It was noted that campaigns led by young MPs would feed into national policy discussions. A recent public health social media consultation provided young people with an opportunity to engage and share their views. A detailed report on the work carried out by children and young people will be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 4 June 2026.

Actions arising from this discussion included Jayne Abbott and Rebecca Morris discussing the Peer Champion Scheme offered to secondary schools and interventions delivered by BICS¹. Emma Waters and Rebecca Morris were tasked with discussing PSHE, financial guidance, and connections to the Healthy Education Partnership².

Youth Representative Proposal

Liz Shaw outlined a new model for youth representation on the Board, proposing that a young adult, aged 18-25, would join as a full member to represent young people more broadly. This change is intended to better serve the needs of Barnet's children and young people by having a representative who can attend the entire Board meeting. Young people under 18 are already represented through existing elected positions, the Youth Board, and the Youth Assembly. The new representative would be responsible for championing feedback from these groups. Recruitment for these new representatives is planned to begin in March 2026, with the aim of them starting by July 2026. Liz Shaw will lead the recruitment process, seeking candidates from alumni of Barnet's My Say Matters programme or similar, who have a connection to the borough and are suited to the responsibility. A selection process will be organised if more than two candidates express interest. Liz Shaw will support the representatives throughout their initial one-year term. If suitable candidates cannot be found through existing networks, the opportunity will be extended to students on relevant courses at Middlesex University or local colleges. This role is anticipated to be attractive as a work experience opportunity and a chance to participate in strategic discussions, particularly for those interested in a career in the public sector.

Revised Terms of Reference (ToRs)

Lee Robinson introduced the item regarding the revised Terms of Reference for the Barnet Children's Partnership Board. The Board was asked to provide comments and amendments on the proposed changes. Lee Robinson and Collette McCarthy were scheduled to bring this item back to the November Board meeting for a decision on the next steps.

Forward Work Programme

The Board was invited to submit suggestions for inclusion in the Forward Work Programme at any time to the Chair. The agenda for the November Barnet Children's Partnership Board meeting was discussed, with members suggesting a standing item to discuss updates from other Boards. Potential items for future meetings were also discussed. The Forward Work Programme was noted and would be amended accordingly.

Actions arising from this discussion included Farah Hussain amending the work programme to reduce the number of items to four, allowing for more in-depth discussions, and incorporating the suggested items.

Other Discussions

The Board also noted the minutes of the previous meeting and discussed the action plan. There were no public questions or comments. An update on Children Social Care Reform was deferred to the next meeting for a more in-depth discussion. The Board noted the list of abbreviations and had no other business to discuss.