Jersey children's commissioner opens public consultation

Dr Carmel Corrigan said she would visit as many schools as possible

Jersey's new children's commissioner has launched a public consultation to help inform her four-year strategic plan.

Dr Carmel Corrigan said she would visit as many schools as possible during the consultation period.

The plan, which is required as part of the Commissioner's Law, is due to be presented to the States and published at the beginning of September.

The consultation is open for responses until 30 June.

'Children are experts'

Professionals working with children and other groups are invited to contribute.

Dr Corrigan's took over the children's commissioner post in March and her term of office is running for the next six years.

She said: "We know there are issues of concern to children, like leisure on the island [and] access to health and mental health services.

"It is absolutely critical [we hear from young people] because our office is here to work for children's rights to work on behalf of children.

"We could sit in the office and say this is what we think we should focus on, but none of us are actually children on Jersey in 2024, and the only way you can get the lived experience is to talk to children.

"Children are the experts in their own lives and that's the critical point of us going out and actually hearing from them directly."