On Monday I started the day with Cllr Richard Brett, Paul Rogerson and other colleagues at the Leeds Museum...

We were all showing our inspectors and auditors a picture of Leeds. Starting with the fantastic map on the floor at the Leeds Museum we then set off on a bus tour around the city. We stopped at one of the new lift health centres on Dewsbury Road where Ian Cameron, Director of Public Health, and Sandie Keene, Director of of Adult Services, talked about the health challenges we are facing in Leeds and the differences between the richest and most advantaged areas and the poorest and most disadvantaged areas of Leeds. We then moved on the South Leeds High School to meet Colin Bell, Headteacher, and two of his students, Dave Richmond, Area Manager, and Chief Superintendent Mark Milsom from West Yorkshire Police. They all talked about the challenges and opportunities facing us in South Leeds and one young female student who talked about her experiences at the school and how Peace Jam had changed her life. She was a brilliant advert and ambassador for the school. We moved on again to Tech North for more presentations; this time on Teenage Pregnancy by Sarah Sinclair from Children's Services and NHS Leeds, on Care and Safeguarding by Rosemary Archer, Director of Children's Services, and Sandie Keene and on NEET by John Paxton who heads up our Integrated Youth Support Service. John also brought a team from Archway and again a fantastic young woman stole the show.

All in all it was a great start to the day and I hope that the inspectors learnt a lot about Leeds, because I certainly did.
Chris