Tuesday 3rd February saw representatives of network organisations from Scotland, Wales and England gather at Friends House, London, to discuss what they had in common when it came to youth work.
The event, an outcome of our gathering in Herts in May, was divided into three main areas – Health, Education and Self Empowerment – led by Tommy Buck from Friends, Families and Traveller, Article 12 in Scotland’s Eilidh McCleod and Padmini Ravi or London Gypsies and Travellers respectively.
Below are some of the bullet-pointed highlights of the discussions, held amidst a plethora of post-it notes, blindfolded seating instructions and mirror-drawn stars (no, really).
- Health
Main Issues Identified
- Peer pressure, anxiety, beauty trends, and risky behaviours (e.g., tanning injections/sprays)
- Geographic isolation and denial of health issues
- Literacy and communication barriers, particularly around mental health
- Misinformation online and distrust of digital health platforms (e.g., NHS apps)
Key Recommendations
- Ensure young people are directly involved in decisions affecting them
- Provide baseline competency training for professionals
- Strengthen peer-to-peer and community group engagement
- Improve integration between youth groups and trustees
- Develop a Youth Manifesto for Government and funders
- Establish a national Youth Advisory Board / Youth Assembly
- Education
Main Concerns
- Weak transition support:
- Primary → Secondary
- Secondary → College
- Lack of staff accountability for wellbeing during transitions
- Insufficient cultural awareness within schools
Proposed Solutions
- Community awareness training for school staff
- Personalised, culturally informed education plans
- Flexible learning models (alternative curricula, part-time options)
- Greater focus on career-oriented pathways
- Recognition of different learning styles (including rural learning approaches)
- Explore contextualised university offers and national education models
- Self-Empowerment
Participation & Representation
- Include young people (including SEN students) on planning committees and panels
- Increase representation on school councils
- Involve young people in creating toolkits and advisory resources
Skills & Development
- Provide meaningful mentorship with real responsibility
- Support young girls to express personal goals through:
- Anonymous feedback methods
- Relationship-building
- Exposure to broader opportunities (e.g., taster workshops)
- Cross-Cutting Priorities
- Ensure young people are consistently included in discussions (online and in person)
- Recognise the diversity within the term “young person”
- Encourage inclusion of GRT members on school youth councils
- Broaden and regularise stakeholder meetings (bi- or tri-monthly)
- Include both individuals and organisations in future engagement
These are just baby steps on a journey towards a more coordinated approach to youth work among the communities. If you want to keep up to date, or get more involved, in these development, email [email protected] with the words YOUTH FORUM in the subject line and you’ll be added to a mailing list.
Below are links to Tommy, Eilidh and Padmini’s presentations (click to download)