Plans are afoot to make major changes to Trafford’s Children and Young Peoples Service (CYPS) with consultation going on until 14th January 2013. This is your chance to make sure your views are represented, so please familiarise yourself with the plans and go ahead and have your say.

There always seem to be oodles of documentation accompanying consultations, and it can seem overwhelming. Trafford have published an ‘easy read summary‘, which, I can confirm, really is an easy read.  The biggest change is that 16 Sure Start centres will become six children’s centres.

How to have your say:

You can complete online questionnaires for each of the affected areas.  People often feel intimidated by consultation questionnaires, particularly when faced with questions such as ‘Will the propose (sic) changes deliver the statutory responsibilities of the Local Authority?’.  The thing to remember is that your opinion matters whether you are an expert on the ‘statutory responsibilities of the Local Authority’ or not, so it is perfectly acceptable to answer some questions with ‘I do not have enough information to answer this question.’  I have to say that some of the questions are rather leading (‘Do you think a youth work offer should be a priority for the Local Authority?).

Youth Service online questionnaire

Children’s Centre online questionnaire

CAN Service online questionnaire

Alternatively you can print off pages 7-9 of the easy read summary and send your comments by post to the Children and Young Peoples Service.  I believe there are normally ‘face-to-face’ events in the community as part of the consultation, but I haven’t been able to find any on the CYPS website, so please post in our comments section if you know of any of these events.

The consultation ends on 14th January 2013, so please make the effort to give your opinion, whether you have your own children or not.