The National Youth Agency - Participation News, July 2008

Participation News, July 2008

4 Aug 2008
This issue includes government plans to shift power and influence into the hands of citizens as the Communities White Paper is published, a report by I&DeA on participatory budgeting and local councils and nominations open for the Young Partner Awards.

Policy

The government has published Communities in control: real people real power,

Also of interest...

a White Paper setting out proposals to deliver a fundamental shift in power, influence and responsibility into the hands of communities and citizens. Plans include promoting democracy and empowering young people by establishing a programme for young people to shadow government ministers and elected mayors, developing a programme of internships with local councillors and increasing the number of young people who help councils and others understand the impact of their policies on the young. It also plans to giving local people a direct say in how budgets are spent.

Publishing the 2007 annual report on the State of Public Health, the government's Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson has called upon health authorities to take better account of young people's health. Recommendations outlined in the report include a national summit to take stock of health services for young people, further involvement of young people in the design of health services for them, and the reduction of the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers aged between 17-20 to zero.

The governments’ Policing Green Paper From the neighbourhood to the national: policing our communities together sets out proposals to give the public, including young people a greater say about how their communities are policed. As outlined in the Youth Crime Action Plan the Green Paper is to ensure that young people are involved in tackling youth crime and decisions that affect them.

The UK Children’s Commissioners’ report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has identified eighteen areas of common concern across the UK including: persistent inequalities experienced by children; the failure to consistently take account of the child’s best interest in decision-making; and the ongoing methods to tackle child poverty.

The Labour Party has supported extending the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds following a vote at its National Policy Forum. The plan to extend the vote will be included in the next Labour election manifesto.

Practice

The NYA is producing a series of case studies of places for young people to go on behalf of the DCSF and in support of myplace, the government’s plan for improving youth facilities. The case studies will look at a range of current generic and specialist provision and local authorities’ approaches to securing coordinated provision.

The NYA has launched a new blog designed to stimulate and reflect activity around Youth Work Week 2008. The blog will include ideas for the week and provide the opportunity for people to add comments and ask questions around its theme of Promoting the Voice and Influence of Young People. There will be regular pieces from a variety of National Youth Agency staff reflecting on relevant issues and as the week approaches it will also carry details of local activities taking place and the linked event of Takeover Day on 7 November 2008.

The Youth Citizenship Commission aimed at encouraging young people to become active citizens has been launched. The Commission, chaired by Professor Jonathan Tonge will focus on young people aged 11 to 19 and will examine what citizenship means to them, consider how to increase their political participation and lead a consultation on whether the voting age should be lowered to 16. The 12 appointed commissioners include three young people.

The UK Youth Parliament is currently hosting a forum to generate ideas for its updated manifesto. The forum is open to young people aged 11-18 who would like to contribute an idea and can be accessed once they have registered.

The government has launched a website to engage young people in a debate about the national identity card scheme. The website aims to explore young people's views on proving identity and using identity cards and is open to young people aged 16 to 25 who live in the UK. The findings will help to shape the identity card being developed for young people.

The Driving Standards Agency has launched a nationwide consultation to encourage young drivers to have their views heard on proposals for improved driver training and testing. Formula One Racing star David Coulthard will head the four month consultation tour and young people can also give their views online.

Young equals, a group of charities and young people campaigning to stop age discrimination is holding a day of action on 28 August 2008. Young people are being asked to get involved through a number of methods including collecting evidence of unfair treatment, contacting local MP’s and setting up campaign groups.

Research

The Young Researcher Network has announced the areas that partners are working on. These include the involvement of looked after young people in their review process, mapping and assessing the awareness of positive activities in the local area and the media portrayal of young people and the impact upon young people. Further information about both these and the other projects is available.

The latest report from the Good Childhood enquiry summarises children and young people’s views on what they think makes for a good childhood in the UK today.

A JRF report, on designing citizen-centred governance, has found that more debate is needed on the principles and purposes underlying citizens’ involvement in governance.

Funding and Awards

National youth volunteering organisation v has announced that it has re-shaped its Match Fund, in order to attract new project ideas from the third sector and private funders. It has created six themes for the fund: community cohesion; environment; health; children and young people; poverty; and human rights. These themes are intended to create more attractive volunteering opportunities for young people, as well as reflecting the aspirations of private sector businesses, trusts, foundations, the voluntary sector and communities. Up to £15 million is available, with two application deadlines: 29 August and 31 October.

The Innovation Fund has announced grants to encourage more people to become involved in local democracy. The grants are open to charities, community groups and non-government organisations which are developing new ways to help people participate in public discussions and influence government policy. The closing date is 26 September 2008.

Nominations are now open for the Philip Lawrence awards 2008. The awards reward groups of young people aged 11 to 20 who have taken the initiative to improve their lives and the lives of others. Winning groups will receive cash awards of £1,000 to invest in their award winning activity. The closing date for nominations is 12 September 2008.

Nominations are now open for Youth Action Network’s Makin' it Real Awards, which are designed to reward and recognise young people and workers who have made a positive difference to their local communities. Awards are in two categories: the Young Volunteers’ Award, for groups of two or more people under 25 for projects that have taken place in England during 2008; and the Worker’s Award, for staff who have supported young people in developing a new project. The closing date for nominations is 31 October 2008.

The Young Partners Awards, created and ran by young people are designed to recognise and celebrate young people’s involvement in decision making within voluntary youth organisations and projects and are now taking nominations. The nomination process has now started and the awards are open to voluntary youth organisations and projects that work with or for young people aged 11 to 25. Winning groups will receive a cash prize. The closing date is 19 September 2008.

Resources

The NYA Youth Justice and Community Safety Team will be producing a quarterly Crime and Youth Justice newsletter which will be a round up of crime related news and policy. If you would like to receive this newsletter on a quarterly basis, please email Rita Kotecha to be included on the mailing list. Your email will not be used for other unsolicited mailings although we do offer other newsletters in areas that may also be of interest. Visit http://www.graphicmail.co.uk/sendlink.asp?HitID=0&StID=4478&SID=6&EmID=2774350&Link=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueWEub3JnLnVrL2VuZXdzbGV0dGVycw%3D%3D for more information.

Participation Works has produced a guide containing information and ideas about ’How to involve children and young people with communication impairments in decision-making’

Participation Works has launched a 'health room', which brings together the latest policy, guidance, news, and resources on involving children and young people in decision-making about health services. The website contains a number of rooms each covering a different aspect of participation.

A report by I&DeA, Joining in: participatory budgeting and local government looks at how participatory budgeting can contribute to local democracy by supporting community engagement. It examines the extent to which councils enable people to join in and make budget decisions and the benefits and challenges councils experience in developing participatory budget schemes. It includes a case study on Brighton and Hove Children and Young People’s Trust.

A new resource from JRF, Community Engagement and Community Cohesion

has found that new migrants often struggle to get their voices heard and that young people and women in particular are at risk of not being heard.

Events, Jobs and Training

A one day conference Participation: The essential tools and resources by Participation Works will be held on 18 September 2008 in London. Workshops include Hear by Right in practice, involving 8-12 year olds in decision making and participation within workforce development. Further details are available from the website.

A conference by Rural Youth Network, ‘Young people making a difference – the social inclusion of rural youth’ will take place on 25 September 2008 at the Novotel Hotel East Midlands, Long Eaton. Further details are available from the website.

Participation Works have a programme of free training courses for Third Sector organisations that work with children and young people. They include Ready Steady Change, Building a Culture of Participation and Youth at the Table courses.

Participation Works is an online gateway to the world of children and young people’s participation. It includes access to information, resources, training and networking opportunities.

If you would like to find out more about The NYA’s work on participation, The NYA Participation Newsletter is available from the Participation Team webpages It is published direct to the web every two months.