#YouthVoiceNews, 26th Nov

Welcome to #YouthVoice News and Opportunities – a regular roundup from the world of youthvoice, participation, and influence. This week:

Welsh Youth Parlt: Commissioner calls on Assembly to take it more seriously / Minister predicts joint session with Assembly Members | Teens launch High Court Action to challenge social media ban | The “Youth Participation Worker” professional – Reflections, Recommendations/ Josh Harsant, Youth  &Policy  – YVH Rec Read! | National Standards in health sector | Youth Work and Votesat16 – Presentation & Recommendations | Centre4YouthVoice November “Newsletter” |  Resources: Gamifying Democracy from the Politics Project & New Peer Research Toolkit – Centre4YouthVoice | plus the more Opportunities for young people and supporters | #YouthVoiceNews is produced by Young Voices Heard CIC as a non-profit venture, and edited by a volunteer.

NEWS

⚡FEATURE 22nd Nov | Welsh Youth Parliament | Senyed Plenary session: Commissioner calls on Govt to take Youth Parlt views more seriously | Joint session with Assembly Members planned.

The Welsh Youth Parliament of 60 young people aged 11-18, met in the Senedd (Welsh Assembly) for their annual plenary session to conduct business as well as host a debate on their committee reports recommendations. (Recording by Senedd TV here) They heard updates from committee reports on 1/ Transport Accessibility, and 2/ Cost of Living and Poverty and also debated the findings of a new  Crime and Safety report. A report on Education had previously been presented to the devolved Government department. The Youth Parliament has also just held elections for a fresh 2-year intake for 2026 (33,000 registered voters / 11% of those eligible. The results are expected in the coming weeks.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Minister Lynne Neagle, responding to the education report, which called for schools to be safe and inclusive spaces to address bullying and racism, assured that she had read every line and every recommendation.  [Watch this space for a link to their website when a written summary and government response to their reports is available].  “I know you want action in response to your recommendations”.  The young members not only heard from the Cabinet Secretary and the Children’s Commissioner at the end of the session, but were able to follow up with questions – many of which asked how the Government would take action in response to recommendations, and report back! The Minister promised to come back with a detailed response report to each recommendation and looked forward to more working ‘together’ in the future. She also revealed that “there are plans for a joint session between new members of the new Senedd (Government – after May 26 elections) and the youth parliament next year”.

The Children’s Commissioner, Rocio Cifuentes, announced that she is planning to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise the relationship between her office and the Youth Parliament. In her remarks, she also welcomed the Government’s commitment to work with the young members and to take some of the recommendations forward, but identified that it was not just a case of being heard but being acted upon. “It [Youth Parliament] needs to be taken much more seriously by the Welsh Government. I’d like there to be more formalised methods of responding to your reports”

Comment: Each of the devolved nations has a Youth Parliament supported by their adult equivalent with funding. They represent an alternative model to the UK Youth Parliament representation (neither Wales or Northern Ireland sends their youth parliament reps to the UKYP, but Scotland does). In contrast to the UKYP, which has no formal relationship nor regular meetings with the UK Government and whose last House of Commons “debate” had no specific recommendations to make or response given, the young people have direct policy input and expect to not only be heard, but acted upon. The exception is the Youth Select Committee (introduced by the British Youth Council as a UK forum of representatives from council, mayors, members and youth parliaments), which still holds an inquiry annually, originally chosen by a national youth ballot of the public and debate.  Is there something we can learn from these local models, with democratically chosen priorities,  about how to organise a meaningful dialogue at a UK national level/England level where priority common policy issues are raised with government, recommendations made, and responses offered as a matter of course – for mutual benefit.  This should be the role of the national youth council, taking input and representation from a membership that includes all the youth parliaments and assemblies, local youth councils and members. [Recommended watch Ed]

⚡Teens launch High Court action to challenge ban on social media in Australia [BBC report]. Would it happen here?

Noah Jones (15) and Macy Neyland (15) backed by a rights group the Digital Freedom Project, are challenging the social media ban for everyone under the age of 16. Over a million young people are due to have their accounts deactivated when the ban becomes law on 10th December. The campaign was initiated by the Digital Freedom Project, whose president is a Libertarian Party politician, John Ruddick. The DFP recruited the teens to represent the class of young people affected by the ban. They are arguing that it breaches their human right to communication under the Australian Constitution. There is no public indication that either are members of any youth council, youth parliament, or established youth rights group. Their role is to speak as young people who feel directly and negatively impacted by the ban and are widely quoted in global media..

• Macy Neyland “Young people like me are the voters of tomorrow… we shouldn’t be silenced. It’s like Orwell’s book 1984, and that scares me.”
• Noah Jones said: “We are the true digital natives… They should protect kids with safeguards, not silence.

Comment: Would it happen here? Who and how would go to court and on what basis under UK law? Which part of our YouthVoice eco-system,  would challenge Government policy to the point of empowering young people to go down a legal route? Would this be deemed too political, or is every social policy to some extent political? If you dont do politics, politics will do you! (strapline of MyLifeMySay) And who would support them? Is this part of the role of ‘youth workers’ or ‘rights specialists’, ‘campaign groups’ or ‘politicians’ – or even self-empowering youth-led campaigners who seek out allies? We know individual young people want to have their voices heard and acted upon. Will this action inspire more to speak out?  I hope that the promised new national youth council, which NYA has been inviting a wide range of organisations to join (including political youth wings), will be independent enough, youth-led enough, with the resources, capacity and skills to back such campaigns when it is revived. Ed/JC 

⚡Recommended Read : Realising the professional role of the youth participation worker – Youth & Policy

 Head of Voice and Influence at Barnardos, Josh Harsant’s article, based on his Phd research and many years of experience, reflects on the distinct role of the Youth Participation Worker, in the context of youth participation in local government and organisational settings. 

Josh sets out four key functions and makes five recommendations that advocate for a “shift from tokenistic engagement to a culture where youth participation is a shared responsibility and a catalyst for change and innovation.” He calls for young people to be “respected as active citizens and agents of change” concluding that “by better understanding and more fully realising the critical role of the youth participation worker, local authorities and organisations can move towards a model of practice that is inclusive, reflexive, and genuinely transformative”.

This article is a significant contribution to our understanding of best practice in the broader youthvoice eco-system – and what we need to do to achieve it. It takes us beyond the traditional view of “who” supporting staff and volunteers should be, and challenges us to consider what skills, experience and training they require as specialists and professionals. Best practice suggests that organisations need purpose-driven policies that take them to a culture of participation, understood by young participants, if they are to be equally respected as active citizens. This article prompts me to take it one step further – and to ask what skills, experience and support could we also provide to young people to operate within this culture as equals. JC/Ed.

⚡RCPCH (Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health) launches national standards for children and young people’s engagement in health services.

#Youthvoice and Influence is active across many sectors, not just youth work settings. The RCPCH &Us initiative has been pioneering youthvoice influence and engagement best practice for over a decade in the health sector, and last week published this set of National Standards.    Emma Sparrow, RCPCH’s Service Lead for c&yp engagement, said “We’ve looked at 35 other participation charters or models, 30 pieces of statutory guidance and legislation and created a new set of standards for the UK. These standards will help to build engagement plans and work in true partnership with children and young people in wards, units, trusts or projects.” LinkedIn

⚡Votes@16Watch:

⚡Research & Resource: Youth Work and Votes at 16

Last week Carole Pugh, presented the findings and recommendations from her research into the role of youth work and votes at 16. You can watch a recording, which also included input from Votesat16 academic Andy Mycock and Charlee Brewster (Regional Youth Work Unit/Yors&Humber) HEREThe event explored ✨  How youth work equips young people for political citizenship✨ The role it could it play in engaging disadvantaged groups of young people✨ The barriers and policies that limit youth work’s capacity to support political socialisation✨ How can we maximise youth work’s capacity to ensure that 16-17 year-olds are adequately supported to vote . Slides below.

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OPPORTUNITIES

MOBILISE YOUR YOUTH VOICE: Opps for YP & Supporters

YOUTH VOICE OPPORTUNITIES

Our pick #youthvoice opportunities. For a broader range of early career/skill-building opportunities, go to our friends’ website, Youth Opportunities | Early Career and Skill Building roles in the UK

♦ Future Leaders Network: international delegates aged 18-30 UK Closing Date 28th November – Click to Youth Opportunities FLN for full details

♦ Student Minds – Trustees 18-30. closing date 15th January 26. Click Youth Opportunities SM for details

♦ Youth Leads (Gtr Manchester) – Advisory Board, Age 14-25 / by 30th November. Click Youth Opportunities YL for full details.

♦Ernest Cook Trust – Adivsory Board, paid, Age 15-25 / by 30th November. Click Youth Opportunities ECT for details.

⚡The Patchwork Foundation – free training p/t programme, 30th December, 11 sessions over a 10-month-long programme for 18-30 year olds interested in British politics and civil society. Aimed at communities and individuals who are traditionally underrepresented. “Alongside our Masterclasses, we host skills sessions throughout the year that focus on developing your personal and professional skills, and are led by our Alumni and supporters. These include public speaking, networking, debating, and more”. There is also optional mentoring support. More info and application click here.

If you have a #youthvoice opportunity coming up, drop us a line info@youngvoicesheard.org.uk

⚡Trustee positions – Interested in becoming a trustee? Only 3% of trustees are under the age of 30. Find under-30-friendly trustee boards through the Young Trustees Movement

SUPPORTERS OPPORTUNITIES

⚡Centre for Youth Voice – NewsLetter and Free Training and Events timetable

November newsletter  To explore past editions and sign up click NEWSLETTERS Archive.

 Free Training & Events  

Centre for Youth Voice | Regional Youth Units

December 3rd – Authoring Our Own Stories Roundtable: Peer researchers working with Yorks & Humber Youth Work Unit, Youth Focus North West, Youth Focus South West and Partnership for Young London, come together to share key findings and common links across their research projects on a range of themes related to civic identity.

December 9th – Peer Research Toolkit Launch: Join us for the launch of our new Peer Research Toolkit, for organisations looking to involve young people in research.

February 24th – Community of Practice: Evidencing Impact and Change of Youth Voice: We’re bringing organisations together to look at how we collectively evidence the impact of youth voice.

Multiple dates – Involving Young People in Services: Professor Kaz Stuart is delivering three training sessions around creating opportunities, supporting, and evaluating young people’s involvement in services.

• January 13th – Creating High Quality Opportunities for Young People to be Involved in Services
• February 10th – Supporting Young People to be Involved in Services
• March 10th – Evaluating Young People’s Involvement in Services

Multiple dates – Peer Research Toolkit Training: Based on the toolkit, we are delivering 90-minute training sessions on different aspects of the peer research approach, with presentations and Q&As.

• January 20th – Introduction to peer research
• January 27th – Setup, recruitment, budgets of peer research
• February 3rd – Co-designing research aims and questions
• February 17th – Participatory research methods
• March 3rd – Ethics, safeguarding, and data protection
• March 17th – Conducting fieldwork with peer researchers
• April 14th – Involving young people in analysis
• April 28th – Impact and embedding participation

RESOURCES:

⚡ New Resource + Training – Gamifying Democracy, The Politics Project

For other YVH recommended resources, go to the www.YoungVoiceHeard.org.uk main website / RESOURCES, or click #YouthVoiceNews – Recommending Reads and Resources for a summary of what’s on the website.