Youth Participation
‘If you don’t like the way things are then you have to say something or nothing changes’ (Natali – 16 yrs)
At Medway Youth Trust, we really do value the opinions and contribution of young people. We are here to listen! When you get involved with the Trust or the Connexions services we deliver you can make a massive difference to services for young people across Medway. Young people are involved in every level of our organisation including having three places on our Board of Trustees which governs our charity.
ARTICLE 12
Source: Article 12, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (2001)
“Shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views have been given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child (and) for this purpose the child shall in particular be provided with the opportunity to be heard in judicial and administrative procedures affecting the child”
What young people have been involved in so far.
Here are just some examples of the influence young people have within Medway Youth Trust.
- Three young Trustees have equal status on our Board
- A Young Person's Forum that meets every month and and discusses all aspects of Medway Youth Trust business
- A large and positive contribution to the successful application to the Hear by Right Silver Award
- Sit on all recruitment interview panels including for the Chief Executive. We train and support our young people to be effective interviewers
- Reviewed and improved our strategic plan 2011-2016 titled 'Starting with the ends'
- Developed and designed the images for our assessment process for young people
- Designed our website
- Designed the Medway Youth Trust logo
- Reviewed our information leaflets, brochures and Connexions freebies and recommended new ways of presenting messages
- Developed ideas and plans to modernise the entrance to our Connexions Centre in Chatham to make it a more interesting place to visit.
- Interviewed professionals who applied for key young people related posts within the Primary Care Trust.
We carry out regular satisfaction surveys with young people and feedback remains very positive.
What can you Get Involved in?
Our work never stops and nor do the ways in which you can get involved. Here are just a few examples of how you can get involved now.
- The Young Person's Forum
- The Young Person's Design Team
- The design of a new "young person only" website
- Recruitment interviews and assisting in selecting new staff.
- Developing this website further.
- Giving your opinions on our Connexions services. Help us to make improvements.
- Come up with ideas about how to get even more young people to come to our Connexions Centre.
Want to know more………
Contact Steve Hutson on 01634-33 43 43 or email steve.hutson@mytconnexions.org.uk or speak to any member of our staff. We'd love you to get involved!
