Youngsters come up with ideas for a healthier Liverpool

Sep 18 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

DROP-IN centres for youngsters were among the suggestions for a healthier Liverpool put forward by children from six schools yesterday.

Thirty pupils, aged 13 to 18, who all sit on the Liverpool Schools Parliament, took part in the day as part of Liverpool Primary Care Trust’s Big Health Debate, at Greenbank Sports Academy.

The event was organised to discuss ideas about improving the health of the city’s youth through fun, creative and inter-active sessions and games.

Samantha Wilson Limbert, 13, from New Heyes community school, in Allerton, was among those who enjoyed the day.

“It was really useful and fun,” she said.

“We all had a lot of ideas about health and the difference between that and our well-being.”

The event was funded by the Liverpool Culture Company and organised by the Comedy Trust in conjunction with the PCT.

Ian Christie, from the Comedy Trust, said: “I think it is a great thing the health service is listening to not only the people who are using the service now but also to young people who will use it in the future.

“They came up with great ideas and the day was a lot of fun.”

The students, from schools including Broadgreen High and Holly Lodge Girls College, West Derby, were asked questions, including where they would like to be treated for certain conditions.

They came up with ideas for drop-in centres and places they could go with schoolfriends for moral support, to make it easier for people to receive treatment.