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August 2007: Spotlight Member

Did you know that members of the Participation Works Network for England work in a variety of different settings including participation, health, education, children’s rights, early years and childcare?

 

Children and young people’s participation is an integral part of all our network member’s work. Job titles of current members include participation workers, youth involvement officers, CAMHS Patient and Public Involvement Facilitators, youth workers, voice and influence officers, participation officers, children’s involvement officers and children’s rights officers. 

 

To find out more about your fellow PWNE members and how to contact them search our database. (You need to join the network to be able to do this) 

 

As part of the PWNE e-mail bulletin sent to all PWNE members we are introducing a new ‘spotlight member’ feature where we interview a network member  once a fortnight. This is your chance to find out about and  share your experiences of working in participation. Read current interview below. If you would like to take part contact Claire Grant at claire@participationworks.org.uk

 

 

 

 
Mark Benson, NCH

Mark BensonDescribe your role
As National Participation Development Manager I oversee the strategic development of children and young people’s participation across almost 500 NCH projects throughout the UK.

   

What makes a good participation worker?
Time and again children and young people will say that the key element of good participation, or a good participation worker, is simply ‘fun’. As we know, participation is an  umbrella term and it is imperative that children and young people are given opportunities and are empowered to influence the systems that surround them. However, the impact of this process will always be enhanced by successfully engaging them in the first place…so let’s hear it for FUN!

  

What are the barriers to involving children and young people?
There is a dichotomy around the idea that high quality participation requires a high budget (you get what you pay for), and the notion that, at its simplest, participation is about listening to children and young people and positive change happening as a result. In reality, it is all and both of these, but, as adults hold the power, it is often also about the will to change.

 

What are the benefits?
It is a measure of progress (in some areas!) that it is unnecessary for me to simply list all of the acknowledged benefits of participation to children and young people, organisations, society, etc. NCH is continually developing its participation agenda; our growing range of creative arts projects is in direct response to how children and young people say they want to be listened to. Although this is just one way to engage children and young people, the important principle is the recognition that services are most likely to meet young people’s needs when we know what those needs are, and effective participation, which engages children and young people, is the key to this.

 

Tips for effective participation?
Effective participation is grounded in the culture and values of an organisation, is driven by children and young people’s wants and needs, and is reinforced through a strong policy and procedural backdrop. Creating the right structural framework for participation ensures that it is embedded in all you do and that you continue to develop your approach and identify where opportunities can be created and decision making shared.

 

What is effective participation?
For me, effective participation is experienced as meaningful by all those involved. It is also often about ‘next steps’ and the development of the process, or the learning, in the child, adult, group, or organisation. Participation is a journey…and you need to feel like you are travelling!