SOLA Foundation

SOUTHWARK YOUNG ADVISOR'S STRATEGY 2009-2012
'THE VOICES OF TODAY MAKING CHANGES FOR TOMORROW'

INTRODUCTION

The Young Advisors initiative was developed within Communities and Local Government in 2005 to empower young people to have an influence on decision-making and services in their communities.

Southwark Young Advisors are aged between 16 and 21 and are trained to work as young consultants. They advise adults, community leaders, agencies and local organisations on how to better engage young people in community life and regeneration, having been trained to 'youth proof' policies and practices. This includes working with elected members, local authorities, Local Strategic Partnerships and Government Offices. Young Advisors also work directly with other young people to encourage them to get involved in regeneration and community activities in their neighbourhoods offering support and guidance where needed.

Southwarks Young Advisors are locally recruited and have participated in extensive training (delivered by the Young Advisor Charity) which is an important part of equipping Young Advisors with skills to work as young consultants. Some of the topics they have been trained in include: their role and responsibilities; communication and presentation skills, how to plan work; how to youth proof documents and how to train adults on tools to consult with young people.

WHERE WE ARE NOW

Southwark Young Advisors consists of 18 young people aged 16-21 years old who have carried out the following projects to date:-

• 4-Squares event (100+ people – Bringing generations together);
• Youth Proofed the Youth Participation Strategy;
• Visit to Department of Communities & Local Government;
• QE2 Youth Conference (supported & presented);
• Youth Proofed the Trading Standards Identity Card for Young People;
• Stop and Search evaluation (proposal to train +900 police in stop and search techniques);
• Supported the Damilola Taylor Trust Knife Crime event & the Enough is Enough conference.
• Participated in the consumer affairs and trading standards conference and exhibition in Brighton June 30th 2009

At present they are leading on the following projects:-

• Delivering 'Stop & Search & Diversity' training to 900 + Southwark Police
• Leading on a project in partnership with Southwark Connexions (Prospects) to engage young people into their services and to represent Southwark at internal meetings with other London Borough's/Prospect services.
• Participating in Safer Southwark partnership (SSP – Southwark's crime and disorder reduction partnership CDRP) road shows – engaging in 'talkaoke' debates on violent crime and the fear of crime, engaging with young people and sign-posting to services.
• Assisting the Southwark Community Warden scheme with the newly launched (April 09) Junior Warden Programme.
• Assisting with 'street based team' and 'underage drinking' work relating to Southwark Council's Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP) work.
• Southwark Young Advisor Jacqueline Macaulay selected as young advisor to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
• Working in partnership with NDC - engaging and sign-posting young people who's families or themselves are involved in drugs misuse
• CLG National Tenants Voice – providing a voice and expertise for young social housing tenants at a national level
• To work alongside Southwark Library staff to discuss the format and subject headings for a young person's debate. SYA's will lead the debate and ensure that those attending participate and assist Library staff.

WHERE WE WANT TO BE

The key aim of the Southwark Young Advisor strategy:

'Strengthen the skills of existing key practitioners; develop a pool of new and future leaders, and encourage a change in climate and culture of organisations with respect to youth engagement'.

The key objectives of this strategy are:

• To support and encourage young people to play an active part in their communities to tackle disaffection, increase civic engagement, encourage intergenerational communication and respond to concerns felt by other young people
• To support young people in developing confidence and skills, and in making appropriate contributions to the development of their communities.
• To speak out for young people, making sure their thoughts and feelings are considered and provide young people with the opportunity to influence government strategy and policy on issues that affect them
• To facilitate an ongoing and meaningful dialogue between government (central and local) and young people on the experience of being a young person
• To assist with 'building bridges' between young people and those in authority.
• To make best use of our current resources and future funding opportunities to develop the Southwark Young Advisors scheme
• To develop and maintain strong partnerships and to help key partners attract and maintain the interests of young people.
• To communicate the impact and successes of the young advisors in area's....
• To develop a performance management framework.
• They will work both locally, Pan London and nationally to share good practice and to learn from others.

HOW WE GET THERE

• Key building blocks to be in place – resources including ongoing funding, partnerships, accountability, best practice, communications
• Continued engagement with young people from the local area
• Action Plans – dates, time-line, future projects
• Monitoring – performance indicators, action plan monitoring, equality reviews, surveys, questionnaires, feedback forms, website comments...