Youth Involvement
Children and Young Peoples Charter of Involvement
This Children and Young People's Charter is based on the National Youth Agency's Hear by Right model which sets out Seven Standards for the Involvement of Children and Young People.
Each of the seven principles links to the five outcomes from the Every Child Matters guidance: Staying Safe, Being Healthy, Enjoying and Achieving, Making a Positive Contribution and Economic Wellbeing.
Good Practice Guide on Involving Children and Young People in the Recruitment & Selection Process
This essential guide sets out clearly the processes and best practice models for involving children and young people in the recruitment process.
Children and young people are very insightful and astute in knowing the skills, qualities and knowledge that are going to be useful within a job role. This is particularly the case for those who will have direct contact with them.
Children and Young people can make a valuable contribution to, and gain themselves, from involvement in recruitment for management and other roles if their ability to match skills, qualities and experience to the job role is taken seriously.
Active Involvement Charter Mark Awards
Following on from the Children and Young People's Charter of Involvement, the Charter Mark is an accreditation scheme for organisations within Northamptonshire actively involving young people.
This four level accreditation process is a procedure through which agencies audit to what extent and how meaningfully they involve children and young people within their service. Agencies are invited to apply for the award and will be aided both in assessing how developed and meaningful their current work is and in developing it further.
Each organisation will go through the assesment process with young people from their service. Organisations will be assessed on the following criteria based on the Hear By Right Standards of Involvement:
- Shared Values
- Strategies
- Structures
- Systems
- Staff
- Skills & Knowledge
- Style of Leadership
To find out more or to apply for an award, contact Karen Gardener, CYPP Participation Officer on 01604 410236.
Children and Young Peoples Shadow Board
The Shadow Board is a new project being driven by the Strategic Active Involvement Group (SAIG). This Shadow Board will be composed of young people who will be supported by employees of the SAIG partnership organisations.
The board will be constituted in such a way that it possesses a democratic mandate and is representative of the Children & Young Peoples Partnership Board (CYPPB).
Children and young people were consulted on the formation of the Shadow Board, the results were; seven elected Chairs of secondary school council (one from each of the districts/boroughs), the eight elected members of UK Youth Parliament for Northamptonshire, seven elected members of existing district/borough forums and seven elected representatives of the Youth Action Teams.
The agenda and papers that have been prepared for the CYPPB will go to the Shadow Board which will sit one week in advance of the CYPPB meetings.
Two members of the Shadow Board will attend each meeting of the CYPPB on a rotating basis. One of two CYPPB members should likewise attend each meeting of the Shadow Board on a rotating basis.
UK Youth Parliament
The UK Youth Parliament in the East Midlands aims to give the young people of the region, between the age of 11 and 18, a voice which will be heard and listened to by local and regional government, providers of services for young people and other agencies who have an interest in the views and needs of young people. They have the support of all LEAs in the region as well as Government Office East Midlands, the East Midlands Development Agency and East Midlands Assembly.
There are 24 MYPs (Members of the Youth Parliament) for the East Midlands from different backgrounds including young people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, varying sexualities and there is a good gender balance.
UK Youth Parliament East Midlands
Money 4 Youth
Money 4 Youth is a programme set up to distribute the Youth Opportunites Fund and Youth Capital Fund money allocated from central Government. The money is divided into each District/Borough of Northamptonshire to fund projects and activities for 13 to 19 year olds. Each application is judged by local groups of young people against the national criteria. More information on the programme, including application packs, deadlines and amounts can be found at the link below.
Last updated on 17/06/08 by Phil Sorrell