Participation Works

Working closely with stakeholders including young people, the voluntary sector, local authorities, and businesses, the Department for Education (DfE) has published a series of themed discussion papers as part of Positive for Youth on which they are seeking views on their website.

As part of this process DfE have published a general discussion paper called "Overarching narrative for youth policy statement". The overarching narrative paper brings together the themes in the individual discussion papers into a single narrative. It describes proposals for a new vision for all young people, and the services all young people need to fulfill their potential.

National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) has published a briefing paper which summarises the overarching narrative, then sets out the key points of the discussion papers that relate to young people and the voluntary and community youth sector. It includes details of the questions which the papers invite discussion on.

Read the NCVYS briefing on Positive for Youth discussion papers.

One of these discussion papers is called Young people's involvement in decision making. Views on the over arching narrative and all the discussion papers are invited from all those who work with young people, young people and their parents and organisations that involve them. You can write direct to positivefor.youth@education.gsi.gov.uk by 15h September 2011.

DfE have reiterated their support for participation with the launch of National Support for Youth Participation which includes funding opportunities for local and national groups. Their website states:

“Giving young people an opportunity to influence decision making directly and enabling them to lead change helps to encourage a more positive relationship with their communities. It ensures national policies and local services are best configured to meet their needs - young people want policies and services which listen and respond to their views.”

Fri, 22/07/2011 - 16:44