What's Changed Stories
'If the people who are supposed to be the beneficiaries of change do not know that it is happening - then it probably is not happening…' Lord Herman Ousley
Organisation: Shine and Da Gypsy Crew
The situation:
Also of interest...
Shine is a project that visits local Gypsy and Traveller sites with a renovated library bus. Young women from one site asked project workers for support separate from the younger children and stated that they needed access to the internet because they were unable to take advantage of additional educational support after school because of travel arrangements. Supported to apply for YOF funding the young women received enough to fund laptops with wireless internet connections and a printer.
What children and young people said:
‘We wanted to learn about different jobs, to be able to look up information on the Internet, to learn to use computers and to do our C.V.’s. We also wanted to be able to get help with some school work and other things like driving theory tests.’
What’s Changed?
‘We use the computers for homework, researching jobs and careers and looking anything up we need to know.’
‘Two of us are using the computers to learn the Driving Test Theory and one of us can’t tell the time so is being helped to use the resources on line to learn how to tell the time.’
ECM outcomes: Making a positive contribution; enjoying and achieving; economic well being.
Organisation: Young Minds
The situation:
Children and young people who had experience of being sectioned were invited to present evidence of their experiences to MP’s and key decision makers in relation to the Mental Health Bill. They argued against young people being held on adult mental health wards.
What children and young people said:
‘Being a part of changing the Mental Health Bill and helping to ensure that other young people will not have to go through what I did when I was placed on an adult ward is one of the most rewarding and positive things I have ever done. I was listened to, heard, and respected for what I had to say, and felt that what I was saying was being valued…I'm pleased I could help, and even more pleased that it helped make a difference!’
What’s Changed?
The law has changed and by 2010 hospital managers must make sure that children and young people under 18 years old are placed in an environment that is suitable for their needs; if an adult ward is not suitable then they cannot be admitted there.
ECM outcomes: Making a positive contribution; Being healthy.
Organisation: Gloucestershire County Council
The situation:
Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) within Gloucestershire identified employment rights for young people as a key priority. Through consultation with young people the MYPs discovered that many young people were confused about a number of issues including the type of work they were allowed to do, how many hours they could work and where they could seek advice. It was decided to create an employment booklet especially for young people.
What children and young people said:
“I read the booklet and I went to the Connexions website and went to the one to one talk with one of the operators/advisors on the website and they told me what to do. They told me to write a CV and to check out these websites and they were really useful and I checked out the jobcentre website and that was really helpful. I am writing up my CV to give it to a company and hopefully it will get me a job”.
What’s Changed?
The employment rights information cards have been produced and have been circulated to youth projects and schools around the county and within the Southwest UKYP network. The card is endorsed by Gloucestershire County Council Human Resources.
"Young people can be so keen to become financially independent that they will accept poor or even illegal working conditions. Therefore we thought it vital that they became aware of their rights through our Employment Rights Card" MYP Cotswolds/Stroud 2006-7.
ECM outcomes: Making a positive contribution; economic wellbeing.
Organisation: The Maypole Centre
The situation:
Young people decided to discover what other young people thought about the estate where they lived. They devised a questionnaire which asked their views of the estate, where they hung out and why, whether they felt safe, whether there were enough facilities for children and young people and what they would like to see in place. The survey found that 90% wanted to see more facilities for young people, in particular an adventure swing, a multi-purpose sports area, a skate park and more seating areas and shelters.
“They say go and play on the fields, but they’re covered in dog mess. You can’t play there”
“Its stupid, we want to be active, but there’s nowhere to go”
They presented their findings to local decision makers and following a successful bid for NRF funding they have succeeded in getting more facilities.
What children and young people said:
"Young people now have a place to call our own"
"Its great to finish a game without being moved on by residents/police”
"Its great to have a place to play football"
“We got ideas for different facilities from going round Birmingham and taking photos of things like seating areas, skate parks, football and basketball pitches, adventure swings and floodlighting”
What’s Changed?
A MUGA (Multi Use Game Arena), enabling young people to play basketball and football has been built. A new shelter and a new bench area have also been created.
ECM outcomes: Making a positive contribution; being healthy; enjoying and achieving.
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