What children love - and worry about - living in Cumbria

Poverty, tough times, ill health, flooding and industrialisation . . . Subjects that could keep many of us awake at night.

But at a time of school, innocence and carefree play, children, it seems, are still finding time to grasp and grapple with the impact of some of the bigger issues facing the world - or they are at least in Cumbria.

More than 4,600 youngsters surveyed in the county have shown a remarkably insightful and thoughtful grasp of life.

They also show a kindness for others - and the realisation they live in one of the UK's most beautiful places.

The survey was carried out by children's charity Barnardo's, in what is believed to be one of the largest reviews of its kind to give a voice to children in Cumbria.

It was carried out in the summer with children, organisers say, from a large number of backgrounds.

The results are now being forwarded to authorities and officials to help them think about their services.

Children aged between eight and 12 were asked about the things they love, dislike and worry most about growing up in Cumbria.

They were also asked who they would turn to if they needed help - and what they would wish for if they could change things for their families and others.

See their answers in the Barnardo's video here:

Among the findings, nearly 2,000 children said they wished they could change life for other children in the county so they did not live in poverty, had enough friends and could be happy.

Children were asked if they could name the thing they would change for youngsters living in Cumbria if they had a magic wand.

More than 960 said they wished that children did not have to live in poverty and could have better homes, more money and food.

More than 1,030 said they wished children and their families did not have to go through tough times - and that everyone could be well, have friends and be happy.

The survey organisers said over 450 children wished they could spend more quality time with their family, including through parents working less and being able to see relatives more often.

More than 1,340 wished that their families did not have things to worry about, including ill health and other worries - and that they could live happily ever after.

The thing children loved most about living in Cumbria was the environment around them - being in the countryside and in nature where they could be active.

More than one in 10 loved their home and family life.

The environment, for reasons such as flooding and weather, also featured as the thing that more than three in 10 disliked about living in the county.

Richard Simpson, assistant director for Barnardo’s in Cumbria, said: "We wanted to get a strong picture of what it is like to be a child growing up in Cumbria today.

"As well as finding out about things that make youngsters happy, we also wanted to know what they worry about most, including in their family life."

The survey highlighted children’s awareness of issues in the world.

More than 620 said the thing they worried about most was bad things happening to them.

Just over one in 10 worried about the environment around them, including factors such as flooding and industrialisation.

A similar amount said they were worried about terrorism.

When children were asked who they would talk to, other than close family, if they needed help, more than 1,240 said they would confide in a friend.

Mr Simpson said: "What has become clear from this survey is that even at such a young age, children are extremely astute to what is going on in the wider world around them.

“While it was good to see children still think about everyday childhood things such as pocket money and playing out, staff were also moved to realise children’s awareness of health and loss and their concern for the wellbeing of their families and other children.

“When children were told they could be given a magic wand to change one thing for every child living in Cumbria, they didn’t just wish for fantasy items such as a million pounds for every child.

"They mentioned basic things that children need to be happy, including friends and for families not to be living in poverty, highlighting their compassion and awareness of children not as fortunate."

How the results were unveiled

The findings from the survey were announced at an event in Carlisle.

At Carlisle Youth Zone, issues found to be of concern to children were highlighted and discussed.

A group of children from areas and places including Allerdale, Carlisle, Eden and the south lakes supported Barnardo’s to organise the family-focused Summit 17 event.

Senior officials from police, council, the NHS and Barnardo’s were quizzed by a panel of children to find out how the themes raised in the survey could be addressed.

Children, their families and professionals from Cumbria sat as audience to the debate.

They also took part in a number of workshops, before spending the afternoon enjoying a range of activities together, such as sports, craft sessions, gaming and pamper areas.

The group of children, also aged between eight and 12, who helped to organise the Summit 17 event took part in a Forest School day in August at Newton Rigg College at Penrith.

There they spent the morning building dens, making fires and cooking lunch together over a firepit, before getting busy in the afternoon planning the details for the event.

Ella Isles, 10, from near Penrith, was one of the children that helped Barnardo’s to organise the event.

She co-chaired the panel, sitting alongside senior representatives from a number of organisations.

Ella said: “It was cool being on the panel and I liked answering all the questions with the police, council, Barnardo’s and the NHS.

"As well as telling people about the survey we also enjoyed a buffet and played games.

"I was surprised and concerned with how some children answered some of the questions.

"But I thought the day was really useful for people to find out what is going on and what children really think about things in Cumbria."

Mr Simpson said: "We are grateful to everyone that attended the fun Summit 17 event, from the children that helped to organise it, to the senior representatives from agencies who were grilled by our panel of children.

"We can all now use these findings to work together to look at how children and their families can be best supported in Cumbria.”

The results of the survey are being shared with many organisations across Cumbria, including Children’s Services and the NHS.

How was the survey put together?

The survey was carried out from July to mid-September.

Children were spoken to at summer, community and leisure events, at Barnardo’s children’s centres and in schools, including those for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Organisers say the survey asked open questions and was carried out with children in relaxed settings, and where possible, in private, so that children’s honest feedback could be captured.

A ‘Comments Campervan’ supported staff from Barnardo’s to survey the children at events throughout the summer, with a large number of children video interviewed so their views could be fed back to organisations.

What does Barnardo's do?

Barnardo’s provides early years help, outreach work, intervention and targeted support to families and individuals through the 18 children’s centres run by the charity across Cumbria.

It offers a range of different services.

These include play sessions for children and therapeutic services for young people dealing with mental health issues.

There are also parenting courses teaching life skills about everything from nurturing a child to cooking healthily on a budget.

Specialist workers at Barnardo’s run recovery sessions for victims of domestic abuse and their children, teaching them life skills to deal with the trauma they have been subjected to.

Barnardo’s also works closely with Cumbria Police to run a missing person support service and the charity provides help to children affected by parental imprisonment.

Visit: www.barnardos.org.uk to find out more.