Youth voice as a service
Q: How can we really embed youth voice within an organisation and get ‘buy in’ from everyone?
Below are a few very quick (unformed) thoughts about what I feel are the key elements in embedding youth voice across an organisation. I would like you to share what you think is most important and tell me what I am missing. I will then collate responses and share more fully in the next couple of weeks.
Key elements
Evidence — Demonstrate clearly how youth voice contributes to the delivery of organisational aims and outcomes
User needs — What do staff need that young people can provide/ What is getting in the way of hearing young people’s views. What are the smallest actions that people can take to improve things?
It’s everybody’s job — whilst having speciliasts in youth participation in an organisation has huge value it shouldn’t mean that youth voice only lives there. Just like health safety everyone in an organisation has role to play — do they know what that is and are they supported in that role?
Make it visible — young people and their contributions should be visible, accessible and alongside everything else
Early and often — adding in young people at the end of a project or in one-off engagements is likely to undermine any momentum that is generated in engagement and internal support
Diversity — Are young people’s views perceived as just being from ‘the usual suspects’ (I have a whole other issue with the overuse of this term but that’s another post). If there is broader representation of young people would people in the organisation and stakeholders value it more?
It’s a right — Aside from all the value it may generate for the organisation and how it may meet other needs the bottom line is that all children have a right to have their views taken seriously. Sometime this can get lost in plans and process
What do you say?
I know that people much smarter than me have worked much longer and much harder on answering these questions — Can you share your knowledge/experience/ideas?
Vote for the one element you think is the most important. (I know it’s not fair to choose one thing but that’s what the comments are for!)
Add in anything that you think is missing
Share ideas and links in the comments below or email me directly at kuduphoto@gmail.com
