The Wakfield Speaks events are held on behalf of Wakefield Together, the Wakefield District Partnership.  The partnership brings together key organisations who deliver the many services and activities that affect the lives of people who live, work, visit and do business in the area.  

The events give local people the chance to talk about some of the key issues that matter most to them and enable us to tell citizens about some of the key actions we have taken as a result of what they told us at earlier events. 

Students Speak began in Summer 2007 when a group of students from Minsthorpe College attended one of the Wakefield District Partnerships Wakefield Speaks Events.  The students enjoyed the event so much they approached members of the Board and asked if they could host a similar event specifically for students from Wakefield District. 

The 2008 event was hosted by Airedale High School and compered by the Writer and TV presenter Ian Clayton.  A working group of 7 students from the Student Voice group worked with staff from Wakefield Council to plan the agenda and select the themes for the workshops.  The students requested that the event focus on the environment and community and safety. 

Over 100 students from 14 schools across the district attended the event. 

We received some excellent feedback from the workshops at the event and Council officers have been working closely with West Yorkshire Police and other partner organisations to develop an action plan to implement the findings. 

We decided to incorporate a number of actions including: 

• A mock arrest
• Bringing in real victims to talk about the impact of crime
• A day in the life of a police officer and what is involved
• Re-constructions of crime
• Police to spend more time in schools to get to know students and what they want 

It was then decided that the best way to deliver these actions was by producing a short film, which would cover a number of key actions within the storyline. 

We intend to use this film as a learning tool in schools, colleges and youth clubs across the district. 

Two versions of the film have been produced.  One will be continuous and will last for approximately 5 – 10 minutes and the other version will be broken down into sections.  This version will allow us to introduce workshops at intervals throughout the film.  At each of these workshops, students will be asked to discuss that particular part of the film and the issues/topics covered. We film was launched in October to coincide with ‘Not in my neighbourhood week’. 

For more information about the Wakefield Speaks and Students Speaks events please contact engagement@wakefield.gov.uk or phone 01924 306769.