Title: Equality and YOU Feeding backa summary of what 402 children and young people have been telling us, w
1Equality and YOUFeeding backa summary of what
402 children and young people have been telling
us, whats happened as a result and whats next.
The 11 MILLION children and young people
in England
have a voice
Childrens
Commissioner for England,
Professor Sir Al
Aynsley-Green
21. Introduction
3THANK YOU for sending us your views on equality.
We received 247 responses from children to our
leaflet, telling us what equality means to them
and when theyve been treated fairly and unfairly
because of their age. We also spoke
face-to-face with lots of different groups of
children and young people, including those who
are in residential homes. Plus, we heard from
many other children and young people through our
website. This brought our total to 402. Heres
a summary of what youve been telling us, whats
happened as a result and whats next.
SUCCESS!!!
4A note from 11 MILLIONSometimes children and
young people are treated differently because of
their age in that, to keep them safe, the law
says they cant do/buy certain things. For
example, children cant buy cigarettes until
theyre 18, to protect their health. 11 MILLION
absolutely supports the protection of children
and young people through laws like this.
52. Summary of what you told us about being
treated FAIRLY because of your age
6In the community Local Connexions services,
youth clubs, youth councils and community
projects were described as places youre treated
fairly
School Some of you said youre treated fairly in
school through school councils and by teachers
ServicesSome of you said you get treated fairly
when you go to places like the doctors surgery
and the hairdressers
Public transport Paying less to travel on the
bus and the train was given by some of you as an
example of being treated fairly because of your
age
Cinema Film ratings/restrictions (e.g. U, 15
and 18) were given by some of you as an example
of being treated fairly because of your age
73. Summary of what you told us about being
treated UNFAIRLY because of your age
8The police Some of you said you were treated
unfairly and not taken seriously by the police
Spending time together A lot of you said youre
treated unfairly because of your age by not being
able to meet outside with groups of friends
without being moved on. Some of you mentioned
the mosquito device
Not being allowed A lot of you felt it was
unfair that youre not allowed to do certain
things or go in some places because of your age
e.g. some parks and leisure facilities gyms
some fairground rides
Itshould be innocent until proven guilty, but
the Mosquito discriminates ALL youth. My shape
represents a helpless young one being attacked by
the sound.Shape by Alexandria on
www.11MILLION.org.uk
9I remember once, in Year 9 it was after school
and me and my friend were walking down to get a
bus and there was this woman there with her
child. And the woman pushed her child away she
was so scared. She pulled her child and said,
get in the car, get in the car. I mean, we were
school girls, what did she think we were going to
do?
Perceptions How some older people see children
and young people was given as an example of being
treated unfairly because of your age by quite a
lot of you
This shows the fact that I have been treated
unfairly by older people and mothers with
children when I am wearing my secondary school
uniform. This never used to happen in my primary
school uniform.Shape made by Charles on
www.11MILLION.org.uk
Some of you said the cost of travel was too
expensive for some young people, and that bus
drivers often dont believe you about your age
10Working You told us its unfair that you cant
do certain jobs because of your age e.g. a paper
round
HousingHomeless 16 year olds dont get as much
help as older people with getting local authority
housing, and this was described as unfair
treatment because of age
Shopping Some of you saw it as being treated
unfairly because of your age when youre not
allowed to buy some things, including lottery
tickets, alcohol and cigarettes
Cinema/films Film ratings based on age were
viewed by some as unfair and some of you thought
films were shown at times unsuitable for young
people
Please remember these are not the views of 11
MILLION. 11 MILLION supports laws that are there
to protect children and young people
114. What happened as a result?
12We made sure that decision makers heard your
views. We did this by writing reports and
letters, and speaking to people who can change
things.
Whats the Equality Bill? The Equality Bill
tells people the Governments plans to make sure
everyone is treated fairly regardless of things
like their religion or the colour of their skin.
When the Bill has been approved by people in
Parliament, it will be turned into law.
Your views are helping us with the EQUALITY BILL
13When it came out, the Bill didnt protect
children and young people under the age of 18
from being treated unfairly because of their age.
We thought this could be changed. So we spoke to
children and young people about their
experiences, we did something called a child
rights impact assessment of the Bill, we worked
with a campaigning group called the Young Equals,
and together WE MADE A CHANGE!
This shape represents that I think equality is
important and every equal person should be
loved the same - just because they are different
doesnt mean anything they feel, live and think,
just like every other equal person but they
appear differentShape by Fudgecake on
www.11MILLION.org.uk
14Following the Bill, the law now being made in
Parliament says that the Single Public Sector
Duty will apply to the way youre treated for
being aged under 18, as well as the way youre
treated for having a disability, or for being
male or female and so on. This means that public
authorities will have to try to promote EQUALITY
between different ages!
Whats the Single Public Sector Duty? This is
the part of the law that is for public
authorities it sets out their duty or what
they have to do. What are public
authorities?Places like local councils, local
police, prisons, schools and hospitals.
SUCCESS!!!
155. What next?
16The Equality Bill is now going through
Parliament, and should become law. But there is
still more to do to make sure the new law is the
best it can be for children and young people.
Keep on sending us your views and visiting the
Equality and YOU website room to find out about
work well be doing in the future.
Find out more about what children and young
people have been telling us about equality,
respect, discrimination
17Get involved! What do YOU think about equality?
Tell us what you think and well pass your views
on to the Government and other adults in charge.
Write, draw, photograph or use Shape It! to
tell us what you think here.