Consultation and Engagement
This section is used to summarise the views of the public, dedicated groups and service users. It can make use of formal assessment of views, such as obtained from surveys, feedback meetings and focus groups.
Strategic Issue 1
Feedback from Hartlepool’s Big Conversation and youth engagement sessions has highlighted:
- Concerns about youth violence, antisocial behaviour, and lack of safe spaces for teenagers.
- Young people and parents have expressed a need for more structured activities, mentoring, and mental health support to reduce risk-taking behaviours.
Nationally, CAPT and youth-focused charities report that adolescents often feel excluded from safety messaging, which is typically aimed at younger children or parents.
Strategic Issue 2
During Child Safety Week events in Hartlepool, parents shared that:
- They often feel overwhelmed by safety advice and would benefit from practical demonstrations and free safety equipment.
- Some families, especially those in temporary or poor-quality housing, struggle to make their homes safe due to lack of control over the environment.
Health visitors and family hub staff report that home safety conversations are well received but not always followed up due to time or financial constraints.
Strategic Issue 3
Parents and carers have raised concerns about:
- Speeding vehicles in residential areas and near schools.
- Lack of safe crossings, especially on routes to school.
School-based road safety programmes have gathered feedback from pupils, who report feeling unsafe walking or cycling in certain areas.
Residents have called for traffic calming measures, better signage, and community enforcement to improve safety