Seen & Heard 2006 Regional Awards
North East
Lauren, Natalie, Brooke, Jacqueline and Lucy
A group of young people aged 10 to 14 were concerned about the effects of passive smoking because their community centre was also used by adults who smoked. The girls carried out a questionnaire with everyone using the centre and sent the results to the management committee. As a result, the committee ran a series of smoking cessation classes and from April 1 2006, the community centre became smoke free. The group repeated the questionnaire in the local shopping centre and smoking was banned there too.
Thornhill Against Racism And Harassment (T.A.R.A.H)
A group of young people aged between 13 and 16 wanted to help deal with bullying in their school. One student suggested a safe ‘drop in’ at lunchtimes and this became so popular that students were given training as peer mentors. In the first year, 20 students were trained; now there are 66 peer mentors. Thornhill has helped other schools introduce peer mentoring schemes, and the mentors also work with Y5, Y6 & Y7 students to help the transition from primary school to Thornhill. T.A.R.A.H. won the Diana Princess of Wales anti-bullying award two years in a row.
Norham Eritrea Project
Students from Norham College heard about a typical school in Eritrea, Africa, where classrooms were dilapidated shacks and children sat on rocks in the poorly equipped shelters. The students led a project to build two new classrooms and provide sanitation for the resource centre. They raised £53,000 and gained sponsorship to visit Eritrea and present the money to the village. Norham students were so moved that they pledged to raise money for an irrigation system to support AdiWegera village where families have to walk for two hours to collect water.
Download national winner Adam's story (pdf).
North West
NCH Trafford Youth Carers
A group of six young carers aged 16 to 18 were approached by BUPA and NCH to create a video about the issues faced by young carers. The young people were given responsibility for leading the project and decided that the need for professionals (e.g. teachers) to understand their situation was the most important issue. The aim of the film was to get people to listen and understand some of the problems young carers face daily. The video succeeded in giving young people a voice and was shown to the Children’s Commissioner for England when he visited Trafford in February.
Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership Ltd. (Adult winner)
Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership established the Young People’s Board Sub Committee (known as Xchange) to enable young people to discuss key issues relating to services that affect them in the area. Members of the Board include a team of peer researchers who evaluate services through participation in internal audits, mystery shopping and other research activities. They have undertaken work on reviewing the organisation’s Business Plan and in developing its Youth Involvement Strategy. Connexions have also consulted with young people and used their ideas to design and implement a feedback procedure allowing the ongoing collation of compliments, complaints and suggestions. The young people have identified a number of areas where there is actual physical evidence of change as a direct result of their involvement with the Youth Board.
Download national winners Nayab and Habeeba’s (pdf).
South West
Sophie
Sophie was selected to be part of a panel called The Children and Youth Board, which was responsible for recruiting a Children’s Commissioner for England. Sophie consulted with children in Poole to gain their views on government policies and questions for the recruitment process. She organised consultation groups and workshops, with support from Children’s Express and Poole Children’s Fund, then fed the information to the Minister for Children, Young People and Families. As a result, the government has become more aware and better informed on children and young people’s policies.
Download national winner Kelsey’s story (pdf).
East
Holly, Amber and Izzy
The girls wanted to raise awareness of identity fraud and get people to shred their data rather than throw it away. Following research, they ran a ‘shred-a-thon’ involving local businesses and invited the Chief Constable of Norfolk to a press launch to publicise their efforts. As a result, they have increased awareness of identity theft and the importance of shredding in their local area. They also won the Norfolk Partners against Crime competition aimed at young people aged 11-16.
Download national winners Pink Pandas' story (pdf).
Download national winners Tom's story (pdf).
Download adult national winner Holbrook Primary School's story (pdf).
Yorkshire & Humber
T4C Group (Time 4 Change)
The T4C group found that their opportunities as disabled young people were often very limited. Following the 2004 Disability Discrimination Act, all public buildings were required to make adjustments to be accessible for disabled people. The group decided to assist local leisure facilities and help them make their services more accessible. The project is currently in phase 1, which includes completing three Disability Equality Audits for council leisure centres. The results will be presented to centre managers and other representatives, using a DVD. Phase 2 will involve working with private leisure centres and phase 3 producing a toolkit, although continuation of the work is dependent on funding.
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Adult winner)
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust decided to involve young people in its governance structures and listen to their views when making decisions that affect them. The Trust worked with Barnsley Youth Service, Connexions and The Campaign Company to run a campaign to encourage young people to have their say on hospital and health issues. This involved running a series of meetings with young people and hospital governors, and organising a disco for 13 – 19 year olds to raise awareness of issues such as healthy eating and sexual health, and to encourage young people to become ‘members’ of the hospital. Young people’s involvement has since resulted in positive actions such as hospital signage being changed from “Adolescent” to “Young people”. It has also enabled young people to learn about decision making.
Download national winners Jazz Hands Wyke youth forum’s story (pdf).
East Midlands
“Shhh…Don’t tell anyone I’m GAY!!!!!”
A group of young people including Sand, Lia, Neil and Sarah were involved in making a film called “Shhh…Don’t tell anyone I’m GAY”, in partnership with Community Interest Organisation Luna. It enabled gay, lesbian and bisexual young people to talk about their experiences of bullying, raise awareness of the issues involved and identify solutions. Now that Section 28 has been repealed, this DVD will be an invaluable resource to all schools across the country. The young people involved worked very hard on the project to ensure that their messages were heard loud and clear.
Saska and Karl
Saska and Karl wanted young people who had experience of receiving social services to be involved in the training of social workers and other professionals, to help them understand the views and values of young people. The Children’s Rights Service helped prepare them for delivering workshops to professionals, which put an emphasis on communicating and consulting with children and young people. Over 100 people have now attended the workshops and plans are being made to run Total Respect workshops in the future.
Download national winner Chloe’s story (pdf).
Download adult national winners Time 2 Change group's story (pdf).
South East
CAN WE (Talk 2) at Jigsaw4u
Disabled children and young people living in Sutton, Surrey felt that social services, health workers and teachers were making decisions about the services they received without consulting them. Jigsaw4u appointed a development worker who helped to get people to listen, and the group invited local decision makers to meetings where children and young people could ask them questions directly. The group, now called YADPAG (Young and Disabled People’s Advisory Group), meet once a month to discuss important issues. They also organise fun events for disabled children and young people and their families in the borough.
Debra
Debra represented her school at a local forum entitled “We are the Voice”, speaking to people from the council and clubs about activities that did not allow access to people with learning difficulties. Debra and other pupils at her school put on a play about the fact that there was not always enough for young people with learning disabilities to do after school. They expressed how they felt left out and neglected. Debra also wrote and read a poem which has been published in a book. Now, for the first time, the young people can join in with skiing, archery and rock climbing after school and Debra is putting together a documentary about her experiences.
Download national winner Ashleigh's story (pdf).
Download national winner Libby's story (pdf).
Download national adult winner Downland Youth Network's story (pdf).
West Midlands
Alex, Lucy, Laura, Rosie and Matt
Herefordshire had no recognised body to represent the voice of young people. Surveys showed that young people thought the council didn’t do enough to involve young people in decision making. A youth conference was held where the idea of a Youth Council was launched. The Youth Council Action Group formed and a survey was conducted (reinforcing the need for a youth council) The group of five young people made presentations to the County Council asking for support and sought over £6,000 from the Local Network Fund. As a result, the Herefordshire Youth Council was elected and met for the first time on March 23 2006.
Jackie (Adult winner)
Jackie was concerned that young people with autism are often excluded as they find it difficult to socialise and to integrate into the community. Jackie decided to take action and ran meetings and workshops with young autistic people to find out about their issues and needs. She discovered that, with support, the young people thought they would benefit from social integration with their peers. Jackie then set up the B-Autistic after school club which collects the young people from schools or day care and takes them to an existing after-school club so they can mix with other children.
Download national winner Craig’s story (pdf).
London
Jeffrey
Jeffrey came to the UK as an unaccompanied minor. He wanted to help looked-after children have an opportunity to make their voices heard and get involved in designing services. He attended a LISTEN event and signed up to become a member of a youth forum for looked-after children. Jeff gave up his time to be trained as an interviewer and regularly takes part in interviewing new staff. He has also spent time preparing and delivering presentations to decision makers to increase awareness. Now, looked-after young people in his borough are being heard and invited to take part in designing and enhancing services to better meet their needs.
Download national winners Coram young parents' story (pdf).
Download national winner Young leaders against crime’s story (pdf).
Scotland
Download national winner Youth connections deaf club’s story (pdf).
Download adult national winner Edinburgh council’s story (pdf).
Wales
Youth Base Magazine
Young people in the Vale of Glamorgan created a free magazine for other young people in the area. The information in the magazine was all provided by young people, and they were responsible for creating the look and design. The magazine proved to be a success and has since doubled in size. Some agencies that have seen the magazine have since funded pages and help in the distribution to 8,000 young people.
Sofa Surf DVD
A group of young people from Wales wanted a chance to voice their opinions on the areas where they live. They decided to make a DVD by taking a sofa out onto location and filming young people who wanted to express their views. While the DVD plays, the Welsh Extending Entitlements and young people’s rights are also shown at the bottom of the screen to inform young people of what they are entitled to. The DVD was sent out to different youth centres in the locality and is now used by agencies when looking at issues and improvements in different areas.
Download national winner Hajer’s story (pdf).
Northern Ireland
Download national winner Banbridge Rainbow Factory’s story (pdf).