CHILDREN will get their say at a Youth PACT meeting at a Redditch first school next week.

The meeting, which is a combined Youth PACT and school council meeting, takes place at Matchborough First School on Thursday, September 27. There will be two representatives from each year group present, along with Redditch Police and Redditch Council representatives.

Youth PACTs were launched at the first school and at Arrow Vale Community High School in the summer.

Through Youth PACT and school councils, students at both schools have already been invited to put forward views and ideas for improvements within the schools and the local community, which resulted in more than 800 responses, including concerns about antisocial behaviour and calls for more activities for young people.

Local Policing Officer Pc Paul Downes said: "We believe getting young people involved is the key to tackling antisocial behaviour.

"As well as taking the views of older students into account, we felt the views of younger children were equally valid, which is why we decided to include pupils from the first school.

"We hope by demonstrating we're listening to young people we'll continue to see a fall in antisocial behaviour in the Matchborough area."

Matchborough councillor Juliet Brunner said: "So far we've been really impressed with suggestions the youngsters have put forward and how they've embraced the whole idea.

"Youth PACT gives young people a voice, and even though the first school pupils are only aged five to nine, they are the citizens of the future. They already have strong views on issues and it's only fair they should have their say."

Jackie Harris, Matchborough First School headteacher, said: "We feel it's very valuable for youngsters to have a voice in the community."