Episode 05
Involving young people through creating structures
One of the ways that youth organisations work in a more consistent way with young people is to create structures for engagement and/or sharing power. In this episode, we will hear from four organisations that have created different kinds of structures to enable them to involve young people more actively in their work.
In this episode we hear from:
Cecilia Cappel, Participation and Engagement Manager at Spark Inside, which uses coaching to unlock individuals’ potential and runs a programme called the Hero’s Journey which supports young people who are in prison. She will tell us about how their In Prison Advisory Boards (IPABS) helped Spark Inside to consider the design of a new programme called the Conversation, the importance of reciprocity, and how structures like IPABs can help young adults to have more belief in their own potential.
Kerry Hunter, NNDYC Co-ordinator and Neurodiversity Specialist and Teacher, and her colleague Stephen supported the National Neurodiverse Youth Council which brings together ambassadors from 6 charities focused on neurodiverse conditions so as to strengthen their collective voice and impact. She will tell us about how creating structures can support young people to feel less alone in the challenges they face and empower them to take action together.
Stephen.ortega@adhdfoundation.org.uk and Nndyc@adhdfoundation.org.uk
Italia Jenson (or Talie), Head of Youth Engagement at The Mix, a digital charity that works to empower every young person to make an informed choice about their wellbeing. Talie will tell us about how creating a Youth Board (which works alongside the Mix’s formal board) has been key to transforming organisational culture and how the Mix’s new strategy has been driven by the Youth Board.
Themix.org.uk and info@themix.org.uk
Eugene Hilton, Community and Content Manager at We Don't Settle, which works with communities of empowered young people who are minoritised by society, systems and structures to co-design youth engagement structures that contribute to systemic change. Eugene will tell us about their Youth Steering Committee and the role that it plays as well as the support the benefits to young people of being involved and how they are learning and improving their support and structure.
On IG @_WeDontSettle and on X @WeDontSettle
RESOURCES
Kerry Hunter blogged about the benefits and challenges of listening to young neurodiverse people.
You can find all of the Listening Fund’s resources, including blogs and practice papers on a range of topics here: thelisteningfund.org/learning-and-sharing