A GREAT PLACE TO GROW UP

The Liberal Democrats believe that everyone is entitled to a good and equal start in life. Young people should benefit from open access to parks and green spaces and sport which is high quality and affordable, helping to promote wellbeing, healthy development and strong relationships.

For those growing up here, the Liberal Democrats want Merton to be a place where they can flourish - a great place to grow up with opportunities to learn, engage and belong - and simply be young.

Three children playing outside on the grass.

1. Promote sport and the arts by launching a Youth Sports and Arts Fund to provide bursaries for young people who cannot afford club fees. We will improve swimming rates - currently only half of children can swim - by making lessons easier to access through schools and local pools. We will also upgrade sports facilities with water fountains and public toilets.

2. Invest in education and learning. Schools should inspire children to learn. We will help to fund urgent safety repairs and identify upgrades to school buildings, extend library opening hours where libraries are currently closed mid-week, and hold sessions to promote essential life skills such as healthy eating, money management, current affairs and recycling.

3. Give children the best start in life. We will invest in Family Centres to help parents give their children the strongest possible foundations. We will introduce a ‘Baby Box’ scheme so new parents in temporary accommodation have the essentials they need, and ensure that families have access to play centres and story clubs.

4. Create fun places to spend time and relax together. Merton’s parks and green spaces deserve a clear, proactive vision for the future - with our ‘Parks promise’. There must be genuine engagement on the number, type and length of especially large events in particular parks - protecting our natural environment. We will open Merton’s splash pads and paddling pools four weeks earlier, so they can be enjoyed all summer - recognising the changes in our climate. We will update playgrounds with new adventure play equipment, fix long-overdue repairs, and ensure play spaces are accessible and inclusive for children with disabilities.

5. Support those who need it most. It is disgraceful that 4-in-10 children in Mitcham & Morden live in relative poverty, and that figure has remained the same for a decade. This cannot continue to be ignored. We will improve the transition from Children’s to Adult Social Care so no one falls through the cracks, and support children’s mental and physical health through social prescribing. We will sign the Young Carers’ Covenant to ensure every young carer is recognised and supported at school.

6. Improve health for children and young people by supporting the expansion of free breakfast clubs in primary schools, ensuring that food in Merton's schools contributes to a healthy lifestyle. We will make cooking fun with in-person and online initiatives in partnership with local voluntary groups. We will increase the take up of team sports, especially for teenage girls, including a focus on improving facilities.