Youth consultation
Initially the project started off as two separate consultation groups, one based in Brookhouse and the other based in Little Harwood. Both groups were given the opportunity by the HLC to take part in the Consultation Project where they would be given the opportunity to have their voices and the voices of other young people living within the two wards heard.
The young people were recruited by staff from Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living and Neighbourhood Engagement.
The aims of both the Consultation projects were to
‘Support and enable young people so they could carry out peer led consultations which would then influence services that are delivered by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and their partner organisations’.
The group of young people in Brookhouse and the group in Little Harwood have been meeting regularly for the purpose of the project over the last 2 years. During this period the young people received training using an innovative approach to community consultation and participation; Participatory Learning and Action (Participatory Learning and Action can be defined as a group of behaviours and tools, which allow citizens to analyse the issues facing them and then plan what action to take. Citizens using this approach use a variety of fun and creative methods, which do not rely upon literacy skills (e.g. mapping, opinion lines, H forms, Daily schedules, Problem trees, drawing, and video). Equipped with these new skills the group then consulted with their peers and younger children at existing youth groups, in schools (year 5 and 6 children in two Primary Schools) and on the streets. In total 220 young people were asked their opinions about where they live. The team of ‘youth facilitators’ then met for a residential to examine the information gathered and crucially to identify a set of possible solutions and who best to take these solutions forward. The team of young people was also asked to decide what should happen next with the information gathered. They felt it should be presented to local ‘important people’ through the form of a presentation (Powerpoint with video clips and photographs) which they did to the Children and Young People's Partnership, a major descision making body. Since then they have been asked to set up a Youth Bank to distribute funds dealing with issues raised during the consultation.
The Consultation project demonstrates:
A desire for this C.A.T group of young people to take seriously the role of citizens and engage in local democracy.
The ability of a great diversity of local young people who are outside the typical profile of the ‘usual suspects’ whose voices are often heard during such processes.
The ability of the C.A.T group to work together with other young people and children (Community cohesion)
A snapshot of young people’s lives in their local community
The willingness for young people to take some responsibility for changing their communities for the better.
Mohammed Khan – Community Development Officer
mohammed.khan.clacsblackburn.gov.uk
Contact no. – 01254 52661
For more information about the methods used in cosulting with young people please follow link
http://www.communityinvolvement.org.uk
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