I am on 2 scrutiny committes and I am also a member of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education. I most enjoy my work on the Children and Young Peoples committee probably because it is my area of expertise. However I have learnt a lot from being on the Health and Wellbeing committee especially learning more about the impact that poor education has on someones chances of leading a healthy lifestyle. Did you know that the average life expectancy for men across the town differs by 11 years for men? This means that on average males in the poorer areas of the borough are more likely to die earlier (by up to 11 years) than men living in the richer areas. I think that seeing this inequality makes me want to do more work in this area to try and ensure that all people across the Borough of Darlington have equal chances in life, thats why I think that education is so important as it shapes what happens to you in adult life.

Last Thursday for example.

Up before 7, iron school uniforms and get the kids up. Just after 8 my daughter left for school (she is at Longfield) and I walked my son to school (Corporation Rd Primary) so he could have his breakfast at the breakfast club. Then I took the dog to my mums as the dog is bonkers and can’t be left on her own! I finally got to work just after 8.30.

Busy day at work, I am training some new colleagues at the moment and this takes up most of my day. Worked straight thru till 2.50 with no break because Ofsted are inspecting my sons school and I have been asked to be at school for 3 to be interviewed by Ofsted. Normally I work until at least 5.

Ofsted interview went well, then I dashed up to Morrisons to get something in for the evening meal and then picked the kids and the dogs up from my mums. Went home and made some dinner for the kids (hotdogs for a treat as I didn’t have much time, much to the kids relief, normally the food is mega healthy – they call me the food police!)

Then over to the Town Hall for Full Council meeting at 6. I asked a question about being more transparent when schools are failing our children. At the end of the meeting there was a debate about what we should be doing in Darlington to best cope with the current economic crisis, this was both contentious and interesting but at the end of the day putting political differences aside we had to decide what was best for the Borough and not just what was best for us the local politicians.

Then home by 8pm. Watched a Town Called Eureka recorded from Tuesday and went to bed by 10, to get a good nights sleep so I could face the madness of another day!

This is a fairly typical day although the evening meeting may not be at Town Hall, it could be a political meeting or leaflet delivering or just knocking on doors in Pierremont and talking to residents. If I am not at work during the day I am at home working on my council computer.

All too often people and particularly organisations think they know what young people want and don’t always take time to ask.

So I would like to here your ideas about what could be done to improve leisure activities for young people – I have already heard some interesting ideas about improvements that could be made to the bike track at Westpark and improving access to areas that can be used for skate boarding. However I know that not all people are into those activities and would like you to tell me what you think would work.

Also as Youth Champion I would continue to look at areas where education in the Borough can be improved to give you a better education and in turn better chances of success in life. I know that may sound a bit dull but I won’t apologise for thinking that every young person in the Borough deserves the best education in the country.