Westmorland and Furness Council has laid out its five-year plan to help children and young people.

The strategy presents the council's ambitions for every child and is based on views from children, young people and their families.

The strategy, available to view on the council's website, reveals that children and young people want to feel safe both in their communities and homes.

It also reveals that they want to do well in school, receive more help to progress into training or work, receive support earlier for health and wellbeing, and take part in activities or visit places that are inexpensive.

Milorad Vasic, director for Children’s Services at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “Children and young people told us exactly what they need to get on in life and we must be ambitious for them.

"Our strategy gives us a clear direction to work towards and we can now work with children and young people to tackle the issues they are worried about most.

“We can’t do it all alone, but we’re committed to working with key partners in the public and third sectors to make Westmorland and Furness a happy, healthy place for children to live and thrive.

“The positive news from Ofsted that we’re rated 'Good' overall gives us the foundations to build on and continue to deliver for our children and young people.”

The Ambition for Every Child plan sets out the priorities of the council over the next five years, as well as the actions needed to get there.

The priorities are improving the life chances of children and young people, caring for and keeping children and young people safe, ensuring access to services and provision, and working in partnership to manage collective resources effectively.

Cllr Sue Sanderson, lead member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “On the back of our latest Ofsted result this strategy is very timely and sets out our long-term vision for the future.

“We are not resting on our laurels despite being rated as 'Good' – our children and young people deserve an ambitious council who’ll give them the support they need to achieve their potential and be safe and happy.”