Children and young people were a thread running through much of this week.
On Tuesday, I joined Eve Parker for Urmston Musical Theatre’s junior production of The Little Mermaid. The very talented young cast delivered a fantastic performance, and I was slightly concerned by just how many of the songs I could still remember from the many times I watched The Little Mermaid on VHS more than 30 years ago. Later in the week, I attended the Year 6 summer production at Victoria Park Junior School. It was another wonderful example of talented young people enjoying singing, acting and dancing as they come to the end of the school year.
At this week’s Corporate Parenting Board meeting, we heard directly from some of our cared-for children and young people. It was an honest and engaging session, where they spoke about their experiences—some positive, but others that challenged everyone in the room to think about how we can do things differently and provide better support.
I also attended a meeting of the Council’s Scrutiny Committee, where I set out my priorities for the year ahead. These include continuing to place the Council’s finances on a sustainable footing, maintaining our focus on the ‘bread and butter’ services that residents rely upon, and viewing our five Council priorities through the lens of children and young people. There is still much more we can do to support young people in Trafford, both through our own services and by ensuring they can access the opportunities available across our borough and beyond.
Ensuring no young person is left behind was a key theme at the launch of Bev Craig’s manifesto at UA92 this week. It was great to join colleagues from across Greater Manchester, alongside a wide range of community representatives, as Bev launched an ambitious programme for the years ahead. The manifesto builds on Andy Burnham’s work while setting out a bold vision for the future of Greater Manchester. Throughout the week, it has been encouraging to hear on doorsteps how engaged people are with the election and with Bev’s candidacy in particular.
There were also a couple of heritage highlights this week. I visited St Antony’s Centre in Trafford Park to see its new exhibition celebrating Kellogg’s long connection with the area. St Antony’s Centre is always well worth a visit, and this exhibition brings together artefacts from the factory—including contributions from former employees—while telling the story of Kellogg’s presence in Trafford since production began in the 1930s.
Then, on Saturday, I visited South Trafford Archaeological Group at its base on Altrincham Golf Course. I had the opportunity to see a fascinating range of finds from across the local area—including Timperley, Warburton and Urmston—spanning Roman, medieval and early industrial periods. Trafford Council’s Heritage Framework has helped shine a light on the excellent work of both St Antony’s Centre and South Trafford Archaeological Group, alongside many other organisations that help tell the story of the communities that make up Trafford.
Other highlights from my week included speaking at the annual Trafford Moving Conference, chairing a meeting of the Greater Manchester Food Partnership Board, and receiving an update on Stretford’s ongoing regeneration.
Finally, it was a pleasure to meet Elizabeth, Bokun and Hana, who are taking part in this year’s Civic Leadership Programme in Trafford. It was inspiring to hear about the contributions they are already making to their communities, and I hope they gain a great deal from the programme. I would love to see them continue their journey into civic life and leadership in the years ahead.