The annual report of Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, John Denley, is now available – and, for the first time, is presented in an online, interactive format.
The report, Our Children, Our Future, outlines the support which is being provided for the city’s children and young people, and how the city is working together to support the next generation to live healthier, happier lives.
It includes audio from Health Champions at Bilston Primary School and Heath Park School, enabling the voice of the child to be heard on topics including infant feeding, healthy behaviours and physical activity.
There are also videos from local parents who share experiences of services they have accessed and how they have helped them on their journey through parenthood, while Health Visitors talk about the support they can give throughout the vital stages of the first 1,001 days of a child’s life, ensuring they have the best possible start.
John Denley, Director of Public Health, said “Wolverhampton has a younger population than most other places in the country, with children and young people making up nearly a quarter of our citizens, and so I was pleased to be able to make them the focus of my report this year.
“By supporting children and their families from preconception, through their important first 1,001 days and into early adulthood, we can create a healthier, happier childhood journey for generations to come.
“To achieve this, we will continue to work with our partners and through our Family Hubs and other settings to ensure every child has the best start to life, which will help us meet the council’s ambition that all children and young people in our city grow up happy and healthy in strong families and are able to realise their full potential.”
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, added: “I wholeheartedly endorse the Director of Public Health’s annual report, which highlights the excellent partnership work taking place to support our children, young people and their families.
“It is great that we have been able to include, via the new interactive format, the lived experience of children, young people, parents and service providers, and also signpost to services, and I would encourage people to explore the report to find out more.”
The report was endorsed by the city’s health and wellbeing board, Health and Wellbeing Together, last month with members welcoming the focus on children and young people in the city, and it will be considered by members of the council’s Health Scrutiny Board on Thursday (12 December).
Councillor Jaspal added: “Moving forward, we will continue to build upon the priorities of our Health and Wellbeing Together strategy, the council plan and One Wolverhampton, ensuring that the health and wellbeing of our children is given equal priority to the rest of the population, and that coordinated multi agency approaches are able to continue to deliver seamless support to children and families, including during the move into adulthood.”