We teamed up with Leeds Youth Voice to ask children for their thoughts and feelings around Wish 2.
Earlier in the month we talked about Wish 2, what it means and what the Council are doing so far to improve things. We asked the young people who attended the group (aged 12-18) the following questions:
Why is Wish 2 important to you?
“so parents don’t fear or have anxiety for their children”
“to prevent anti-social behaviour”
“It gives you a better childhood. You make memories”
“Happiness”
“Create that community”
“To make new friends and socialise and get confidence”
“Hanging out and having fun or taking a break to relax improves mental health”
“playing and hanging out helps you learn things you can’t in a classroom or from books, like social skills”
“because you can get exercise or for enjoyment of any kind”
“I’ll get bored otherwise”
“All work and no play gets people sad”
“Without safe spaces, we would all stay inside because of the risks and lack of fresh air is rather unhealthy”
What does Wish 2 ‘look like’ right now?
“I rarely hang out in my local area I don’t find it interesting and there’s not a lot of things to do”
“At break time at school I do nothing. It’s only a large concrete area.”
“At home, I like baking, reading, physical and digital gaming”
“playing video games”
“going to the park”
“playing with toys”
What could be better?
“less screen-time”
“more plants”
“less barriers and gates”
“more teachers on duty during playtimes”
“teachers to lead games during playtimes”
“more equipment for school break times”
“a cinema in the park”
“volunteers/
community patrols around to help”
“closed off areas without dogs”
“free bikes”
“places to drop kids off while parents shop”
“improve City Square: slide, swings, grass, disco streetlights, artwork, free food/snacks”
“make things free” “make things interactive”
“community litter pick”
“parking spaces”
“stop bullies”
“theme park”
“more green spaces”
“water play”
“more lighting”
“more green spaces with more colours and better lighting”
Do you agree? Would you add anything to any of the lists?
