Young People Takeover Participation Works » Communities » 24dash.com

The 7 November 2008 was Participation Works ‘takeover’ day. 8 young people aged 10-22, with varying participation experience that were enthusiastic and committed to driving change, participated. This was part of 11 Million’s Takeover Day and the National Youth Agency’s National Youth Week.

Participation Works is a consortium of six leading children and young people's organisations, that enables organisations to effectively involve children and young people in the development, delivery and evaluation of services that affect their lives.
On the day, Participation Works staff presented challenges they faced and participants were asked to choose one that they’d like to address, and how they’d like to do it.

3 challenges were chosen, these included planning a staff away day, making recommendations to the Participation Works Network for England (PWNE) sustainability strategy and designing a marketing strategy for a training for young people. They researched the challenges in various ways: on-line, by interviewing the Head of Participation Works, through telephone surveys with PWNE Coordinators and members of the National Steering Group and by receiving a taster session of the training to inform their knowledge.

The participants were asked:
‘What did you love or really enjoy about today?’
Here are some of their answers:
“How everyone works together. Also, it really felt that it is us, the young people, who are making the differences and coming up with ideas”
“Discussing ideas that were listened to and will be acted on”

Head of PW Mandy Douglas said: “All organisations could benefit from the new insights that come to light during a Takeover Day.”

Overall, the day was highly successful for both the staff and the participants. The staff felt the participants’ confidence and their ability to seize the challenge with enthusiasm was phenomenal.

For further information, please contact Natalie Jeal at natalie@participationworks.org.uk or enquiries@participationworks.org.uk
For more information on Participation Works visit www.participationworks.org.uk or call 0845 603 6725