Notes on: Youth Participation - Growing Up?
Youth Participation - Growing Up? by Barbara Soetan (@barbarasoetan) for the LGiU. See also @elevationetwork, @vwcampaign and@yparticipate.
if we want to tackle disengagement, if we want to tackle deprivation, if we want all young people to have a bright and happy future, then we have to listen and respect what young people have to say.
Young people matter - around a fifth of the population is under 19.
negative media tends to overshadow any positve contributions.
UN Convention on the Rights of a Child --> every child has the right to be listened to and involved in decisions which affect them.
We must see every step or engagement with politics as a gradual transition into youth mainstreaming - no step is too small.
*Young pople are more likely to discuss politics with peers* --> see Nic Newman's paper also most likely to complain that there is too little info on candidates.
Young people want personal development and to acquire new skills.
Main areas where the yourth are consulted
- the Children and Young People's Plan
- leisure activities
- health, including sexual habits, drug and alcohol misuse
- environment, green spaces and recycling
- community safety, including bullying and policing
if expectations are not met then it all seems like tokenism.
Why is youth participation important?
- active service users and can therefore offer first hand experience.
- offer a unique energy and can act as advocates for disengaged peers.
- most people seem to want (and even welcome?) their LA's to come to them on through social networks.
Clearly though LA's are not marketing this as wholesomely as possible. Other barriers include a lack of confidence in the longevity of participation opportunities due to lack of funding and fears of tokenism.
A strong call from the youth for politics to be repackaged with more focus on the small 'p' politics and common interests.
Youth representaion is especially meaningful when young people have a budget and the power to decide its allocation. Also need to be able to fundraise and gain sponsorship <-- greater sustainability and ownership.
*At a time when education is getting more competitive and the youth are looking for further ways to acquire, nurture and activate new skills - is now a perfect time to give the paltforms this generation requires?
