The document outlines a workshop aimed at increasing young people's engagement in local planning and decision-making by identifying barriers, enablers, and providing practical tools. It emphasizes various levels of youth participation and introduces interactive methodologies like open space discussions and creative activities to facilitate involvement. The workshop encourages participants to think innovatively and consider local actions to effectively reach and engage young individuals.

1. Engaging Young People
Kath Whittaker and Jenny Southern

2. The Aims of the Workshop
• To explore the ways in which Young
Advisor’s engage Young People in local
planning and decision – making
• To better understand the barriers and
enablers to young people’s engagement
• To give delegates practical tools for
involving young people

3. About Us
• Movement of 1500 Young People
• 40 projects covering most of England
• National Charity that supports and sources
Central Commissions for our membership
• 60% of work from repeat business

4. Comfort, Stretch, Panic!

5. The Ladder
1. Manipulation
2. Decoration
3. Tokenism
4. Young people assigned but informed
5. Young people consulted and informed
6. Adult initiated, shared decisions
with young people
7. Young person initiated and directed
8. Young person initiated,
shared decisions with adults
Degrees of
Participation
Non-participation
THE LADDER OF PARTICIPATIONTHE LADDER OF PARTICIPATION

6. What if?
• Ask people to think of a bizarre premise:
– What if furniture could talk?
– What if everyone was made of chocolate?
• This gets people to bond
• It encourages people to think creatively
• It encourages deep analysis of cause and
consequence

7. Open Space
An excellent methodology to use with
young people to ensure your work is
youth lead:
• Ask for suggestions about what
they’d like to discuss under a broad
heading
• Have individuals lead on the
discussion they suggest
• Allow people to move around to
contribute to different themes

8. Six Hats

9. Virtual Villages
• Using scrap materials ask
participants to build a 3D
model of the Park, Youth
Centre, Town Centre etc
• Create money asking
participants to indicate how
much they’d spend on each
thing
£500

10. Activity: Avatar Making
•In groups design a
character based
•This character must be
representative of a young
person you would LIKE to
engage
•Tell us everything about
your Avatar

11. Activity: Avatar Making
• Around your Avatar
now list ALL the
ways in which you
could reach this
young person
• Where could you
meet them? How
would you engage
them?

12. Pledges
• Think of something you
could do locally to engage
young people in your work
• Write it down on the card
• Hand it in!
• We’ll send it to by the target
date pre – written on the
card

13. Get in touch…
Young Advisors
W: www.youngadvisors.org.uk
T: 0161 850 1077
E: kath@youngadvisors.org.uk
Twitter: @youngadvisors