The National Youth Agency: Comment - Take the chair

At a meeting the other day, someone suggested that some of the difficulties youth services experience in partnership work could be rooted in the challenges we present to other organisations. Our central commitment to the proper involvement of young people in the design and delivery of services can be problematic to those not accustomed to that approach. Change is not comfortable, and we live in a world where, by and large, the views of adults still go largely unchallenged by those of children and young people. Yet this is exactly what youth work offers, the opportunity to work with us to bring the power and influence of young people into the heart of the work, thus improving the quality of services.

I can remember moments of regret when I realised I was no longer entitled to the most comfortable chair at home. I had emphasised to my children the importance of equality, our mutual responsibility and the home as shared space. My comfortable grasp of theory was set on its head one night when I was tired and wanted to sit in my favourite chair to watch TV.

The chair was occupied by my youngest who pointed out - equality, shared space and so on. I wish I could say that I accepted this point gracefully: I feel I may have sulked.

It is, however, an important concern. As adults committed to the support and development of young people, we have to move beyond theory to practice.

It is no good being a partnership of equals if we withdraw as soon as we do not like what we hear. It is even worse if we engage with young people and then take everything they offer - their creativity, commitment, energy and skills - and use it for our own organisational ends.

It is not sufficient "to have consulted", "to have tried". If we want young people to grow in power, we have to give it up in proportion to their growth, rather than thinking we have the right to do it better by virtue of age and experience.

We have to let them take the chair: after all, sitting in a different part of the room will at least offer a new perspective.