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Regional Networks
National Seminar Involving Young People, September 03

This event was held in London on 17th September 2003 and focuses specifically on involving young people in project work.

Opening speakers were:

  • Sara Bryson – a member of the Network’s Steering group.
  • Esta Orchard – NCVYS, currently on secondment to the ODPM
  • Emma Felton – Participation Officer at Youth Action Network

Workshop Co-ordinators were:

  • Michelle Deans and Chris Pinder, Children’s Society ‘Voices project’ in Newcastle
  • Marc Rothera, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Connexions service
  • Andrew McKnight, Fran Walsh and Ruth Quach, Save the Children ‘Activ8’ project.
  • Stuart Hawkes, NCH’s ‘ARTiculation’

    Carnegie Young People Initiative is a non-profit making organisation, and we are grateful to all speakers for their support and contributions to our seminars.

Summary of the day

Esta presented on the NYCVS charter which they are in the process of drawing up and ways in which they involve young people in their work.

NCVYS is currently broadening the involvement of young people into more areas of the organisation’s work. From their experience of this, they learnt that they needed a common understanding of youth participation both for themselves and their members.

Their charter includes the following points:

  • Young people’s diversity should be recognised and activities made accessible to all.
  • There should be flexible opportunities for involvement and support.
  • Adults should be open and honest with young people about what they are trying to achieve, why they are doing something and the extent of young people’s influence.
  • Young people and adults should work together as partners.
  • Young people’s contribution should be recognised and valued, with emphasis on achieving tangible outcomes.
  • Young people’s involvement should be voluntary.
  • Young people-led approaches should be valued.
  • Young people should feel that they have made a difference and should be involved in monitoring, evaluation and deciding next actions.

NCVYS are looking to create some developmental training with Save the Children and Brathay Trust based on their charter. Organisations will ask adults and young people to work together to look at what participation means and how their organisations can improve young people’s participation.

Emma spoke about the good practice amongst their membership and the Reach framework of good practice developed by the Network, which includes participation. Youth Action Network is currently in the process of drawing up a charter, using youth-led research and consultation with their membership. She is employed to support this work but the organisation is moving towards involving young people in all their work. This is being achieved through support and training for all national staff.


Both speakers stressed the importance of providing different ways for young people to get involved in an organisation. They also stressed that replicating adult structures for young people was not the ‘be all and end all’ of ensuring an organisation effectively involves young people.


The afternoon then divided into workshop groups.

H3. Ways to engage young people between 5 and 13 years old

This workshop focused on techniques to use when working with younger children. The project works to encourage young people to get involved in decision making with different agencies in the North East. It was led by Michelle Deans and Chris Pinder.

A beginners guide to involving young people in staff recruitment and selection

This workshop was organised by Marc Rothera from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Connexions service It looked at why involve young people in recruitment, the barriers to involving young people and training for young interviewers. The presentation from Marc formed the focus for discussion and practice-sharing amongst the group.

Involving ‘hard to reach’ young people

This workshop was organised by Andrew McKnight, Fran Walsh and Ruth Quach from Save the Children’s ‘Activ8’ project. It explored issues such as the barriers to participation and gave case study evidence of how young people from diverse backgrounds could be involved in participatory projects.

Using the arts to involve young people

This workshop was run by Stuart Hawkes from NCH’s ‘ARTiculation’ project It looked at how drama can be used as a tool when working with young people to draw out opinions on issues. It involved lots of rolling around on the floor!