Seventeen-year-old Alex Farrow, one of The NYA's four young trainers, helped train the young people's review panel in Worcestershire on Hear by Right and Act by Right, two NYA resources on standards and skills for effective youth participation. This led to the young people themselves planning and running the high-profile event at the University of Worcester on 25 March, guiding a wide range of other children, young people and adults from across the county. Participants were asked to score how well they felt services were doing on the active involvement of children and young people, using 10 priorities previously identified by the review panel from Hear by Right's Building Standards resources. Small workshops then looked at the issues in more detail. This essential information will now be used by the review panel to evaluate two services on the participation of children and young people.
The event, which also included electronic voting, drama workshops and a free buffet, was deemed a great success. Sarah Penny, a local youth engagement worker, described the biggest challenge now as making sure youth involvement is not side-stepped simply because it is not always easy to achieve. "We are going to do two pilot projects evaluating services between now and Christmas for the young people to use their skills," she said. "Hopefully they will get something really positive out of that, and be empowered to take it further and train up more young people so there is a sustainable and consistent process."
Senior youth worker Adrian Newman urged more service providers and key decision-makers to get involved and respect young people's views. "It is important to have the big chiefs on side and aware of how important this is to them. It's easier said than done, and there is still much to do, but if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. It's the young people that will draw this out, promote it and point out the corners that have not been looked at."
Looking back at the event, The NYA's active involvement development officer Bill Badham said: "Hear by Right is about getting a better deal for children and young people through more responsive services. Crucially, Worcestershire is involving children and young people themselves in assessing how well services are listening and responding to their needs." One of the young event organisers, Lauren McClure, concluded: "I hope we will all be able to work together in a partnership to help create a better life for children and young people and adults combined."
