The Imagineers travelled to Hazlehead Park to meet with NHS Grampian’s Public Health Board and present their ideas for a healthy, happy and safe Aberdeen.
‘All the adults listened. We rolled the dice and asked questions like ‘do you give children what they need?’ The adults had good answers.’
Imagineer Sean-Paul
The girls from the Imagineers group talked about what women in their communities need to be healthy, happy and safe. Why? Well, if children are healthy, happy and safe, the adults need to be too. Then Imagineers met the Community, Housing and Infrastructure Committee. The girls played the fortune-teller game with the councillors, designing their own questions.
Miriam asked the councillors ‘how do you make sure all children have enough to eat?’ Demi-Leigh inquired ‘how do you help to make the parks poo-free?’ and Tijana asked ‘how can you make sure children have a say at home and school?’
The boys form the Imagineers group talked about what men in their communities need to be healthy, happy and safe. Why? Well, if children are healthy, happy and safe, the adults need to be too. Then Imagineers met the Education and Children’s Services Committee – quite an occasion. The Imagineers did a grand job representing their vision for the city.
‘We went to an office in Marischal College. We talked to a grown-up from Education Scotland about what we’ve done for the past year. We showed her the Imagining Aberdeen film and she asked us questions. It was a little bit scary but fun and good. Afterwards I had a smoothie!
I am now a vice captain for Balnagask house in my school, which I don’t think would have happened if I wasn’t part of the Children’s Parliament.’
Imagineer Katie
These 30 ideas for adults come from the children who are Imagining Aberdeen…. Go on! Pick one!
My new year’s resolution is that I will:
‘We had Christmas lunch with every Imagineer. We made a 2017 because it is the new year and we have been working with the Children’s Parliament for a year. One group covered the 2, one the 0 and so on. We covered it in paper and coloured it in with sharpies. We put the 2017 on the ground and took a photo for a card and the blog. We came up with ideas for new year resolutions for adults – things they should get rid of and do. I wrote ‘spend more time with your kids’. We have chicken, pizza and sausage rolls for Christmas lunch. It was great because it was with all my friends and good food.
I feel happy that I have changed Aberdeen a bit by getting more people to look at Children’s Rights.’
Aidan
‘We wrote how we felt and what we were doing on the back of photographs of some of the things we have done as Imagineers. Colin read out scrolls with poems about all the Imagineers – what we are like and how good we are.’
Katie
Manor Park and Bramble Brae Imagineers have been walking around Union Terrace Gardens looking at the art, thinking about what’s good and bad and how to change the gardens. It’s part of the City Centre plans for Aberdeen.
‘We like the mural but not the mess and stuff lying about. We will write a report when we see the plans for the Union Terrace Gardens in December.’
Bramble Brae Imagineers
For Aberdeen City Council’s Celebration of Children and Young People, Imagineers ask staff and visitors at Marischal College what they can do to make their vision of Aberdeen as a healthy, happy and safe place happen.
I was asking people if they would like a tour of the mural. Many people said ‘No, I am too busy’ or ‘I have a meeting’ but the people who did it liked it!
Leo
‘We were giving tours of the mural. Telling grown ups about how the inside of the bubble is how the Imagineers imagine Aberdeen to be. Before we started talking to the grown ups we felt nervous but excited. We were really happy giving tours.’
Aidan, Mikey, Ralfs and Gabrielle.
‘We were asking what can you do to make the ideas in the mural happen? We decorated cards and then asked grown ups to write down their ideas. The tree looked amazing and colourful – an Imagineer Christmas tree. We hope the adults do what they said they would.’
Sean-Paul, Katie and Keira.
Here are the commitments that the adults made to helping make the Imagineers vision happen:
Be more friendly to others. Keep the streets clean. Make sure everyone picks up their litter. Never be mean to children. Love the city. Try hard. Smile more. Invest in our children. Be helpful to people. Make children happy. Invest in the environment by building more parks, playgrounds and better buildings. Love everybody all of the time. Listen to children’s views. Care for our children. Be supportive. Encourage creativity in everything we do. Tell children they are great! Recycle and look after my grand-daughter.
The Imagineers were invited to be a part of Aberdeen City Council’s Integrated Children’s Services conference on Children and Young People are the Future: Let’s Listen and Learn. They took part in a panel discussion with Gayle Gorman, Director of Education & Childrens Services and Aberdeen Care Experienced young people. The Imagineers showed the Imagining Aberdeen video and facilitated a workshop for professionals who want to work more with children.
‘We went to the Beach Ballroom. We spoke in front of loads of people to Gayle. I said that the lighthouse was the most important part of the mural because it had messages to adults about children. I think the most important message to adults is ‘give us support when we need it.’ I felt excited, nervous and happy. Then we had a meeting with grown ups. We watched the video and then asked them ‘how do you listen to children?’ I now think the adults have to make the changes.’
Imagineer Miriam
We had a great time at the Torry Capacity Day, showing people the mural and talking with other young people who are keen to make a difference in Torry. And it was a pleasure to have our very own Imagineer, Sean-Paul with us.
‘Imagining Aberdeen is great bcos it shows what children want – a bright, happy and fun Aberdeen.’
Torry Squad
‘I’d have more police at the skatepark to keep it safe’
Imagineer Sean-Paul
