Table of Contents
Comments
Commenters1
If Big Society aims to encourage [young] people to take an active role in their communities many different delivery styles of Youth Participation have the potential to continue and contribute to this Agenda. Likewise some will struggle to find a place. Existing projects may wish to articulate themselves differently and within styles of work outlined below or to focus on specific aspects of their work as a method of promoting their validity. However it should not be assumed that projects which adopt the most favourable delivery styles will automatically continue. Big Society and other policy require significant structural reform alongside the current budget reduction. The points below should be regarded as a commentary on which styles of work have the potential to succeed and not which organisations will be delivering them.
If Big Society aims to encourage [young] people to take an active role in their communities many different delivery styles of Youth Participation have the potential to continue and contribute to this Agenda. Likewise some will struggle to find a place. Existing projects may wish to articulate themselves differently and within styles of work outlined below or to focus on specific aspects of their work as a method of promoting their validity. However it should not be assumed that projects which adopt the most favourable delivery styles will automatically continue. Big Society and other policy require significant structural reform alongside the current budget reduction. The points below should be regarded as a commentary on which styles of work have the potential to succeed and not which organisations will be delivering them.2
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Projects which Involving Young People in Grant giving – The removal of the ring fence around YOF/YCF is already well known and against a back drop of reduced public services expenditure it will be increasing difficult to identify monies for young people to spend. It is likely that this style of work will become far less prevalent than it has been recently. Although the individual young people involved in this style of work are engaged in voluntary action, the numbers are relatively small. However, individuals involved will have developed a range of sophisticated skills that will enable them to make active contributions to their communities, to youth led mutuals and social enterprises.
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Projects which Involving Young People in Grant giving – The removal of the ring fence around YOF/YCF is already well known and against a back drop of reduced public services expenditure it will be increasing difficult to identify monies for young people to spend. It is likely that this style of work will become far less prevalent than it has been recently. Although the individual young people involved in this style of work are engaged in voluntary action, the numbers are relatively small. However, individuals involved will have developed a range of sophisticated skills that will enable them to make active contributions to their communities, to youth led mutuals and social enterprises.3
1
Projects which enable young people to inspect or assess services, e.g. You’re Welcome, Young Inspectors – There is a key driver from national government to reduce the “bureaucratic burden” on service delivery including the reduction of all inspection and monitoring of services. Whilst individual organisations or authorities may choose to keep youth led inspection or assessment programmes they are based on young people informing the services of needs or issues, rather than young people organising and volunteering themselves. Although the individual young people involved in this style of work are engaged in voluntary action the numbers are minimal compared to the cost of schemes. The proposed review of Ofsted and the move away from the National Indicator Set may offer opportunities for innovative ways of involving service users in evaluation of services and the assessment of need.
1
Projects which enable young people to inspect or assess services, e.g. You’re Welcome, Young Inspectors – There is a key driver from national government to reduce the “bureaucratic burden” on service delivery including the reduction of all inspection and monitoring of services. Whilst individual organisations or authorities may choose to keep youth led inspection or assessment programmes they are based on young people informing the services of needs or issues, rather than young people organising and volunteering themselves. Although the individual young people involved in this style of work are engaged in voluntary action the numbers are minimal compared to the cost of schemes. The proposed review of Ofsted and the move away from the National Indicator Set may offer opportunities for innovative ways of involving service users in evaluation of services and the assessment of need.4
Projects which directly involve young people in adult decision making structures e.g. through supporting them to sit on shadow youth panels, boards or as part of adult committees. The engagement of young people in this setting could be considered empowering communities and has a contribution to make to the Big Society Agenda. That said there is unlikely to be the same inherent driver for this sort of work as has previously existed and the intensive support this requires is likely to be an issue as resources are reduced. Individual organisations and authorities may choose to maintain this style of work, however with reduced resources and therefore reduced support for young people to engage in this way there is a danger that this sort of work will become accessible only to the most empowered and articulate individuals.
Projects which directly involve young people in adult decision making structures e.g. through supporting them to sit on shadow youth panels, boards or as part of adult committees. The engagement of young people in this setting could be considered empowering communities and has a contribution to make to the Big Society Agenda. That said there is unlikely to be the same inherent driver for this sort of work as has previously existed and the intensive support this requires is likely to be an issue as resources are reduced. Individual organisations and authorities may choose to maintain this style of work, however with reduced resources and therefore reduced support for young people to engage in this way there is a danger that this sort of work will become accessible only to the most empowered and articulate individuals.5
Youth Councils/ Youth Forums Etc. Youth Councils and Youth Forums can provide an excellent delivery style for meeting some of the Big Society Agenda. However it requires them to have clarity of purpose e.g. groups that focus heavily on work as a consultation mechanism for the local authority will provide less of a contribution to the agenda. Groups which enable young people to organise and take up social action in their communities will have a strong role. The extensive ongoing support offered by staff to participants, whilst crucial for the success for the work will be challenging to maintain in the context of budget reduction. It should be noted however that within European models, youth councils are able to operate with much lower staffing by enabling young people to take greater responsibility for the organisation and running of them. This sits well with the Big Society Agenda, however there is a clear compromise in that projects are much less inclusive.
Youth Councils/ Youth Forums Etc. Youth Councils and Youth Forums can provide an excellent delivery style for meeting some of the Big Society Agenda. However it requires them to have clarity of purpose e.g. groups that focus heavily on work as a consultation mechanism for the local authority will provide less of a contribution to the agenda. Groups which enable young people to organise and take up social action in their communities will have a strong role. The extensive ongoing support offered by staff to participants, whilst crucial for the success for the work will be challenging to maintain in the context of budget reduction. It should be noted however that within European models, youth councils are able to operate with much lower staffing by enabling young people to take greater responsibility for the organisation and running of them. This sits well with the Big Society Agenda, however there is a clear compromise in that projects are much less inclusive.6
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Campaigning work – projects which support young people to campaign have a clear link to the Big Society agenda, however the manner and nature in which young people are encouraged to campaign may need development. Rather than encouraging the lobbying of decision makers, projects will need to foster young peoples’ ability to organise and deliver their own solutions to the issues they campaign on. For instance, rather than lobbying for improvements to SRE provision, projects supporting young people to design and run awareness raising campaigns or act as sexual health peer mentors are more likely to flourish.
1
Campaigning work – projects which support young people to campaign have a clear link to the Big Society agenda, however the manner and nature in which young people are encouraged to campaign may need development. Rather than encouraging the lobbying of decision makers, projects will need to foster young peoples’ ability to organise and deliver their own solutions to the issues they campaign on. For instance, rather than lobbying for improvements to SRE provision, projects supporting young people to design and run awareness raising campaigns or act as sexual health peer mentors are more likely to flourish.7
Regional youth councils/forums/parliaments – in many areas local youth councils and youth parliaments have collaborated to provide opportunities to engage with young people in regional institutions. Notably this has occurred with the Youthforia project operated by NWRYWU. As many regional institutions will no longer exist that aspect of the regional forum will become defunct. That is not to say that regional youth forums cannot provide significant support to local projects such as youth councils and forums if they are redeveloped in the same manner as youth councils. Indeed it may be one area where collaboration will help ameliorate the impact of reduced budgets. It may be possible to lever in significant capacity on a regional basis to provide the sorts of support young people may find more limited in their local areas. Regional Participation may need to focus on the city regions and look to new partnerships such as local enterprise.
Regional youth councils/forums/parliaments – in many areas local youth councils and youth parliaments have collaborated to provide opportunities to engage with young people in regional institutions. Notably this has occurred with the Youthforia project operated by NWRYWU. As many regional institutions will no longer exist that aspect of the regional forum will become defunct. That is not to say that regional youth forums cannot provide significant support to local projects such as youth councils and forums if they are redeveloped in the same manner as youth councils. Indeed it may be one area where collaboration will help ameliorate the impact of reduced budgets. It may be possible to lever in significant capacity on a regional basis to provide the sorts of support young people may find more limited in their local areas. Regional Participation may need to focus on the city regions and look to new partnerships such as local enterprise.8
Projects which enable young people to deliver services to other young people, such as peer mentors and peer educators. – This is fully in line with the Big Society concept of young people taking voluntary social action. These sorts of projects have a strong contribution to make to Big Society and may find significant opportunities.
Projects which enable young people to deliver services to other young people, such as peer mentors and peer educators. – This is fully in line with the Big Society concept of young people taking voluntary social action. These sorts of projects have a strong contribution to make to Big Society and may find significant opportunities.9
Projects which develop young people’s skills to be active citizens over a short period but do not offer substantial ongoing support. An example of this could be a short residential or training course, where the expectation is that the young people act independently after the course to undertake some sort of social action and the organisation offers only limited support. This sort of project has been limited in the youth sector due to safeguarding responsibilities but does exist within community empowerment sectors. However a possible change in requirements around safeguarding and health and safety may enable organisations to deliver this style of project without feeling that they are responsible for the future actions of the young people and it sits well with Big Society notions of voluntary social action. European Youth Agencies act extensively in this manner in the support they provide to Youth Associations or other youth groups which do not have any ongoing paid or adult support. Thought will have to be given to engaging those who are most disadvantaged to increase the likelihood of impact.
Projects which develop young people’s skills to be active citizens over a short period but do not offer substantial ongoing support. An example of this could be a short residential or training course, where the expectation is that the young people act independently after the course to undertake some sort of social action and the organisation offers only limited support. This sort of project has been limited in the youth sector due to safeguarding responsibilities but does exist within community empowerment sectors. However a possible change in requirements around safeguarding and health and safety may enable organisations to deliver this style of project without feeling that they are responsible for the future actions of the young people and it sits well with Big Society notions of voluntary social action. European Youth Agencies act extensively in this manner in the support they provide to Youth Associations or other youth groups which do not have any ongoing paid or adult support. Thought will have to be given to engaging those who are most disadvantaged to increase the likelihood of impact.10
Children’s Right’s and Advocacy based Work – There are specific duties conferred on local authorities to provide advocacy services to looked after children and children in need (including disabled young people) who wish to make complaints or representation under the 1989 Children’s Act. Alongside this children have legal rights to participate in decisions regarding their care and this requires a local authority to ascertain the wishes of a child in need regarding the provision of suitable services. Whilst Children in Care councils are not a specific legal duty, there is a clear expectation by Ofsted that each local authority will have one (unlike youth councils) alongside a pledge to children in care. These specific legal duties give greater likelihood to these areas of Youth Participation continuing. However they are more likely to be affected by possible reforms within social care than by Big Society. The last few years have seen the delivery of Children’s Rights more closely integrated with other aspects of Youth Participation through co-delivery or co-location of staff from other sectors outside of social care. It is possible that such links may begin to undo and this area of work will return to developing in parallel and possibly in duplication to other areas of Youth Participation.
Children’s Right’s and Advocacy based Work – There are specific duties conferred on local authorities to provide advocacy services to looked after children and children in need (including disabled young people) who wish to make complaints or representation under the 1989 Children’s Act. Alongside this children have legal rights to participate in decisions regarding their care and this requires a local authority to ascertain the wishes of a child in need regarding the provision of suitable services. Whilst Children in Care councils are not a specific legal duty, there is a clear expectation by Ofsted that each local authority will have one (unlike youth councils) alongside a pledge to children in care. These specific legal duties give greater likelihood to these areas of Youth Participation continuing. However they are more likely to be affected by possible reforms within social care than by Big Society. The last few years have seen the delivery of Children’s Rights more closely integrated with other aspects of Youth Participation through co-delivery or co-location of staff from other sectors outside of social care. It is possible that such links may begin to undo and this area of work will return to developing in parallel and possibly in duplication to other areas of Youth Participation.11
Health Service Participation – there is a strong thrust in the new health white paper to increase patient choice. However it seems that this is predominantly geared around patient consultation and a notion of consumer choice of services. Given that recent health based Youth Participation can be seen as a progressive approach to consultation, the principles in this policy may not necessitate a change in working practices for those already working in this area. However this work has tended to flourish only where PCT’s have commissioned local authorities to engage young people on their behalf and many have worked hard to negotiate and develop these relationships. Crucially the new policy will now remove PCTS giving commissioning power to consortia of GP’s and placing public health functions within local authorities. The Local Involvement Networks (LINKS) will now become Healthwatch through which both the local authority and GP consortia are expected to engage communities in the commissioning framework. Health based participation has been a relatively emerging area and if it is to continue a new set of strategic relationships will need to be brokered between GP commissioners and providers. Those providers currently within the local authority should note that, historically relationships between G.Ps and local authorities have been some of the hardest to cultivate. The Health Service is one of the few areas where the Government has pledged to increase spending in real terms. Further details of health watch and a link to the white paper can be found in the appendix.
Health Service Participation – there is a strong thrust in the new health white paper to increase patient choice. However it seems that this is predominantly geared around patient consultation and a notion of consumer choice of services. Given that recent health based Youth Participation can be seen as a progressive approach to consultation, the principles in this policy may not necessitate a change in working practices for those already working in this area. However this work has tended to flourish only where PCT’s have commissioned local authorities to engage young people on their behalf and many have worked hard to negotiate and develop these relationships. Crucially the new policy will now remove PCTS giving commissioning power to consortia of GP’s and placing public health functions within local authorities. The Local Involvement Networks (LINKS) will now become Healthwatch through which both the local authority and GP consortia are expected to engage communities in the commissioning framework. Health based participation has been a relatively emerging area and if it is to continue a new set of strategic relationships will need to be brokered between GP commissioners and providers. Those providers currently within the local authority should note that, historically relationships between G.Ps and local authorities have been some of the hardest to cultivate. The Health Service is one of the few areas where the Government has pledged to increase spending in real terms. Further details of health watch and a link to the white paper can be found in the appendix.12
Youth Owned Organisations such as European Youth Associations – Some of the broader structural reforms proposed in Big Society encourage community ownership of services, mutuality and co- operatives. Applying mutuality concepts to young people generates ideas of young people being members of organisations. Members are part owners of the organisations and entitled to influence its direction as well as having some responsibility to contribute to its running. This is perhaps implemented in practical terms by having elected officials and limited paid staff or state involvement. This notion of Youth Association is uncommon in England but is widespread in some European countries such as Spain and Portugal. This term should not be confused with many of the existing youth associations in England which have organisations as members and usually exist to provide support to small VCO’s. Further work will be needed and will doubtless be done to ascertainthe viability of such models in the UK and also their ability to deliver the outcomes required for young people by Government.
Youth Owned Organisations such as European Youth Associations – Some of the broader structural reforms proposed in Big Society encourage community ownership of services, mutuality and co- operatives. Applying mutuality concepts to young people generates ideas of young people being members of organisations. Members are part owners of the organisations and entitled to influence its direction as well as having some responsibility to contribute to its running. This is perhaps implemented in practical terms by having elected officials and limited paid staff or state involvement. This notion of Youth Association is uncommon in England but is widespread in some European countries such as Spain and Portugal. This term should not be confused with many of the existing youth associations in England which have organisations as members and usually exist to provide support to small VCO’s. Further work will be needed and will doubtless be done to ascertainthe viability of such models in the UK and also their ability to deliver the outcomes required for young people by Government.
Some of the original ideas of YouthBanks emphasised the importance of young people not only deciding on how funds are spent, but also raising funds themselves.
I wonder how there is scope for YOF/YCF & YouthBank groups to look to play a role in decision making over other sources of funding – including funding from commercial sources.
There is also an important wealth of experience in YOF/YCF/YouthBank groups which will be important for helping ensure young people get to input into Participatory Budgeting – but over time there is a risk that this skill base will diminish.
Another part of the shift away from inspections is an emphasis on open data and crowdsourced scrutiny.
There’s certainly some challenges for those supporting youth participation (and developing the tools for crowdsourced scrutiny / armchair auditors etc.) to think about how young people can be a key part of this new open data world.
Empowering young people to campaign on accountability might also be important here.