There exists in Sunderland a strong commitment to encourage, support and develop the active engagement of children and young people in decision-making across services they access and around issues they consider relevant and important. Consultation strategies, plans and practices are underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the principles of the Hear by Right Standards and the requirements of the Children Act 2004.

Find below a summary of past consultation that has been undertaken:

Consultation	Purpose	Contact person	Links
Review of Children and Young People's Plan 2006-2009	To consult children and young people on their priorities for Children and Young People's Plan 2007-2009	Karen Parry Projects Manager Children's Services Cassaton House 43-49 Fawcett Street Sunderland SR1 1RR Tel: 0191 566 1794 Email	Report ( 235kb)
Happy in Our Heads - Children and young people's views on Community Mental Health Services	To consult with vulnerable children and young people to improve access to services provided by Child & Adolecent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)	Judith Stokoe/Angela Wilson Community CAMHS Tel: 0191 553 5206 Email	Report ( 288kb)
Modernisation of Social Care Nurseries (Phase 3 - Thompson Park Nursery Centre)	To consult with various stakeholders on the plans to deliver services for young children and their families within local, maintstream provision.	Liz Clarke Inclusion and Integration Team Leader Children's Services Sandhill Centre Tel: 0191 553 5641 Email	Report ( 135kb)
Youth Two - Sunderland Youth Service Annual Confrence for Young People 2007	This annual event aims to consult with young people about youth provision and issues important and relevant to them in their community.	Andy Neal Acting Manager Youth Development Group Children's Services Sunderland Award Centre 270a Hylton Road Sunderland SR4 7XJ Tel: 0191 553 7409 Email	Report ( 658kb)
Draft Sunderland Attendance Strategy	To improve school attendance across all phases, to prioritise early intervention, to put in place targeted support where it is most needed, to ensure that all pupils achieve their potential and to ensure that no school are in a persistent absence category.	Raj Singh Extended Services and Attendance Group Manager Children's Services Sandhill Centre Grindon Lane Sunderland SR4 4EN Tel: 0191 553 8835 Email	Report ( 189kb)
Staying Safe	To gather views of children and young people.	Suzanne Teasdale Contact Centre Coordinator 37 West Sunniside Sunderland SR1 1BU Tel: 0191 566 0624 Email	Report not yet completed
Childcare Sufficiency Audit	The Childcare Sufficiency review is a statutory duty that local authorities have to meet, as part of the Childcare Act 2006. As part of the act, Local authorities have to work with private, voluntary and independent (PVI) sector to shape children’s services. Aims of the review are to provide the local authority with enough up to date information about the population and about the childcare market. This will help to develop systems and procedures to ensure that sufficient, sustainable, high quality, affordable and accessible childcare is available to meet the needs of parents/carers.	Geoff Dorrity Performance Management and Quality Group Manager Children's Services Sandhill Centre Grindon Lane Sunderland SR3 4EN Tel: 0191 553 5638 Email	Reports: Childcare Audit ( 411kb) Summary ( 76kb) Parental Demand ( 761kb) Consultation ( 220kb) Recommendations ( 56kb) Review 2008 ( 906kb) Review 2009 ( 1mb)
Annual Anti-Bullying Conference November 2007	To raise awareness of the subject of bullying.	Sarah Collins Anti-Bullying Coordinator 37 West Sunniside Sunderland SR1 1BU Tel: 0191 566 0622 Email	Report ( 163kb)
Parent Carer Forum 2008	Consultation with the parent carers of disabled children and those with special educational needs in Sunderland	Steve Fletcher Strategic Manager Gilpin House Blind Lane Houghton le Spring DH4 5HX Tel: 0191 566 2190 Email	Report ( 294kb)
Prevention Strategy (draft) : October 2008 - November 2008	Aim of the consultation is for the Children's Trust to ensure the Prevention Strategy provides a vision that all partners can share and embrace.	Leanne Fairbairn Performance Improvement Support Officer Children's Services Cassaton House 43-49 Fawcett Street Sunderland SR1 1RR Email	Draft Prevention Strategy ( 376kb) Consultation questions ( 491kb)
Citizenship week (children and young people) : 20 October 2008 - 24 October 2008	Citizenship week is an opportunity for services to set up activities with their customers/clients/pupils and engage them in a creative way to find out their views.	John Markall Planning & Commissining Manager Children's Services Cassaton House 43-49 Fawcett Street Sunderland SR1 1RR Tel: 0191 566 1836 Email	Citizenship week report ( 42kb)
Have Your Say, Hear My Voice - A consultation with deaf children and their families in Sunderland : 28 February 2009	Consultation with deaf children and their families to find out what barriers they face in accessing leisure activities in their free time.	Karen Parry Aiming High Programme Manager Gilpin House Blind Lane Houghton le Spring DH4 5HX Tel: 0191 566 2190 Email	Report ( 2.49mb) Report for young people ( 502kb)
Consulting on the Children and Young People's Plan priorities (CYPP) : June 2009	Consulting with children and young people and parents/carers to find out what outcomes members of the public believe should be priorities for the Children's Trust. The consultation will form the development of a 15 year CYPP 2010-25.	Leanne Fairbairn Performance Improvement Support Officer Children's Services Cassaton House 43-49 Fawcett Street Sunderland SR1 1RR Tel: 0191 566 1788 Email	Echo advert ( 1.19mb) Link to online survey
Consulting on the Children and Young People's Plan priorities through schools : June 2009	Consult children and young people through all Sunderland schools to find out what outcomes they believe should be priorities for the Children's Trust. The consultation will form the development of a 15 year CYPP 2010-25.	Leanne Fairbairn Performance Improvement Support Officer Children's Services Cassaton House 43-49 Fawcett Street Sunderland SR1 1RR Tel: 0191 566 1788 Email	Covering letter to schools (  99kb) Questionnaire ( 30kb)
Your Health “It’s in your hands” : July 2009 - August 2009	To seek young people’s (12-16 year old) views on important health topics and how and where they would like to access future health information.	Glenn Riddle Special Initiatives Manager – Children’s Services Sandhill Centre Grindon Lane Sunderland SR3 4EN Tel: 0191 561 5617 Email	Report ( 2.15mb)
School Place Planning for the Future : November 2007 - September 2009	To consult with key stakeholders on reducing surplus school places across the city.	Val Thompson School Place Planning Manager 4th floor Civic Centre Tel: 0191 561 1372 Email	Report not yet completed
Summer programme review : July 2009 - September 2009	To find out views of young people and parents regarding the summer activities.	Clare Sutherland Extended Services Cluster Manager Venerable Bede School Tunstall Bank Tel: 0191 523 9745 Email	Report will be available in October 2009
Parent Carer Forum 2009 - 15 October 2009	Consultation with the parent carers of disabled children and those with special educational needs in Sunderland	Steve Fletcher Strategic Manager Gilpin House Blind Lane Houghton le Spring DH4 5HX Tel: 0191 566 2190 Email	Report will be published after the consultation has taken place
Sunderland Connexions Viewpoint consultation : September 2009 - December 2009	To find out young peoples views and needs in Sunderland, around education, training and employment. To gather information from year 11 students, six form students, 16-19 year old College students, 16-19 year olds in training or on personal development courses, 16-19 year olds not in education, employment or training, staff from the above organisations.	Michael Wade Voluntary & Engagement Manager Sunderland Connexions 30-32 Fawcett Street City Library and Art Centre Sunderland SR11RE Tel: 0191 443 2927 Email	Report will be published at the end of January 2010
Behaviour and Attendance Strategy - 2010 – 2014	First Consultation Draft - A document has been produced as a starting point in formulating a strategy for Sunderland to support pupil behaviour and school attendance to raise educational attainment. It is intended to stimulate discussion, develop working relationships and mutual understanding and ownership of key priorities and actions that will be published in a final strategy document in January 2010.	Phil Hayden Extended Services and Attendance Manager Children's Services Extended Services & Attendance Group Sandhill Centre Tel: 0191 561 8834 Email	Report will be published in January 2010
Information directory for parents and carers of disabled children in Sunderland - March 2010	An information directory called 'Services for Disabled Children in Sunderland, Information for parents and carers' was widely available but the need for this to be updated and redesigned was identified. It was agreed that as well as needing a new name the document would benefit from being presented in a different way.	Steve Fletcher Strategic Manager Gilpin House Blind Lane Houghton le Spring DH4 5HX Tel: 0191 566 2190 Email	The Sunderland Support Guide 2010
Child Poverty : Sunderland Child Poverty Strategy (2010 - 2011) - "Giving every child an equal chance" - Friday 25 June to Friday 17 September 2010	A draft version of the Sunderland Child Poverty Strategy (2010 - 2011) is currently under consultation with Councillors, MPs, senior managers and formal partners from all key partner organisations within the Sunderland Partnership.	Raj Singh Extended Services and Attendance Group Manager Sandhill Centre Grindon Lane Sunderland SR3 4EN Tel: 0191 561 8834	For more information visit the Child Poverty webpage on Sunderland City Council website here ....