Aiming High for Young People’s ParticipationLyn Green, Acting Team Leader

Participation, Information and Advice Team

Gloucestershire Youth Service

Participation of young people runs through the 3 themes of the Strategy

‘Participation is the active involvement of young people leading to genuine

changes in services provided for them’

Aiming High – Priorities for young people’s participation

‘ Young people should be supported to take the lead in making decisions on the activities and services in their community leading to identifiable change.’

‘ Specific increase in the participation of disadvantaged and marginalised young people.’

A Gloucestershire Perspective

Young people’ participation in the Community

• Local Projects, Neighbourhoods and Communities

• District councils / local forums / MYP’s – HBR Standards and Leisure facilities

• Police Participation work / forum groups

• YOF / YCF – District Panels and County Panel

• Gloucestershire Youth Offer Development

Participation of ‘disadvantaged and marginalised groups’

• Looked After Young people (YPLAN)

• ProudStart! (LGBT Project)

• Gloucestershire Young Carers Forum

• Black Young People’s Forum

• Participation of young people with disabilities

• Gloucestershire Grapevine (Information, Advice and Support)

Good Practice

•Young people influencing specific services

•Young people’s participation in design and delivery, and evaluation of specific services, local projects and communities

•Outcomes for young people

•Opportunities for young people to participate at different levels

Young people in rural areas – a forgotten ‘disadvantage’ ?

•Major issue for young people in Gloucestershire / South West

•‘Rurality’ disadvantages young people

•Impact on all young people’s participation, and opportunities

•Major transport issues for young people

•Resource / cost implications

Challenges ?

•Supporting young people’s participation from ‘disadvantaged and marginalised’ groups

•Participation of young people who feel disempowered and disengaged

•Overcoming rural / transport issues

•Costs / resources

•Time, commitment and preparation

Challenges ?

•Joined – up participation

•Sustainability of young people’s participation

Questions ?