Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz Launches Ambitious Youth Safety Strategy for 2025-28 …reports Asian Lite News
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz OBE unveiled a refreshed Youth Safety Strategy 2025-28, signaling a robust, three-year plan to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and adolescents in the borough. Developed in collaboration with the Newham Safeguarding Children Partnership, the strategy promises a whole-system approach to safeguarding and youth safety.
Joined by council leaders, community groups, and young residents, Mayor Fiaz emphasized the importance of collective action in tackling the challenges faced by Newham’s youth. A youth safety strategy group photo captured the diverse coalition of stakeholders committed to driving change.
The strategy, crafted with input from over 500 children, young people, parents, carers, and professionals, highlights key themes like safety, wellbeing, care, and support. It also prioritizes ensuring all young residents not only feel safe but have the opportunity to shape their environments.
Mayor Fiaz stated: “This strategy is a culmination of extensive research, collaboration, and review, reflecting Newham’s commitment to safeguarding our young people. It sets a clear, actionable pathway for the next three years, ensuring we protect and nurture our children as if they were our own. The voices of our youth, their experiences, and their rights to equity and inclusion lie at the heart of this vision.”
The Mayor also emphasised the critical oversight role of the Youth Safety Board, which will steer the strategy’s implementation and foster deeper collaborations across sectors.
Councillor Sarah Ruiz reaffirmed the council’s dedication to ensuring Newham’s youth feel safe, supported, and empowered. “We are determined to make Newham the most child-friendly borough in the country. This strategy places children and families at the forefront, outlining a clear vision to help them thrive,” she added.
Six Core Principles of the Strategy
The refreshed strategy is built on six guiding principles:
Working in Partnership – Collaboration across community, voluntary, and faith sectors.
Tackling Racism, Inequality, and Disproportionality – Addressing systemic barriers and promoting equity.
Prevent and Intervene Early – Proactive measures to identify and mitigate risks.
Support and Protect – Ensuring children and vulnerable adolescents receive tailored support.
Disrupt and Deter – Targeting harmful behaviors and environments.
Create Safer Spaces – Transforming public and community spaces into safe havens.
To ensure its relevance, the strategy will be reviewed, updated, and amended annually, adapting to emerging needs and challenges over its three-year course. With this bold initiative, Newham Council reiterates its unwavering commitment to creating a borough where every child and young person can thrive, free from harm, and with the opportunities they need to succeed.