Youth Work

Hart’s Ladder of Participation is a model that can be used when developing and working on youth participation projects. It aims to enable young people to take an active part in decision making, and give them the opportunity to have a ‘voice’ in society.

Hart states there are 8 steps on the ‘Ladder of Participation” The first three steps, manipulation, decoration and tokenism, are considered not be engaging young people in active youth participation, but instead provide a pathway to move up onto the other stages of youth participation.

The following five steps after this look at how to fully integrate young people into the decision making process and how to get them actively involved.

These steps evolve in that the next step the adult organise an event for young people to volunteer in (young people assigned but not informed).

Following this the young people’s opinions will have some influence on decisions made and they will receive feedback on these opinions (Young people are consulted and informed).

Next step involves adults coming up with the initial idea, and young people taking the necessary steps to implement it with their own ideas and organisation (Adult-initiated, shared power with young people).

The penultimate step look at young people having full power and creative license over their ideas and projects (Young people lead and initiated action).

The final step looks at the amalgamation of some of the final few steps, in that the young people initiate the idea and invite adults to join in, thus leading to an equal partnership. (Young people and adult share decision making).

Anna and I are planning the summer programme and hope to have some fun events for everyone to take part in. Could you let me know in the comments below if you have any ideas to add to the ones below or thoughts on any of the events please?

• Raft build at high tide and maybe include some food. We will need to collect bits and pieces but will probably be able to grab some equipment from the raft race in Lostwithiel
• End of term BBQ at our house – what do you want to do next year, etc
• Overnight camp on the school field. I am hoping for a dry night and maybe no tent just groundsheets and we go to sleep looking at the stars
• CreationFest. For more information visit https://creationfest.org.uk
• Hall walk or something similar – packed lunch and dry day
• Kill the man – Joe’s favourite game – let’s do it in the woods though
• Alfie, Jack and Rich will be visiting the school field every Monday evening to light fires, build a long barn and some outdoor furniture

These are just my ideas and there will be others. Look forward to hearing from you.

I have always tried to work with people rather than numbers. Some funding requirements nowadays push for numbers, I believe we need to push for quality rather than quantity. In this respect I thought I would share with you a story:

Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.

Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”

The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”

The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”

adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)

We all have the capacity to work towards positive change. Sometimes the numbers can seem overwhelming but if you focus on the one and then keep going we can change the world.

Why are we so down on teenagers. A while ago, I saw a man in his 70’s drunk, being abusive and hating on people. So, do I now parade around town asking, “What am I going to do about all these 70 year old people?” You laugh and you can see the ridiculous nature of that statement. I am aware that some might say, it is not the same. Ageism is to protect people of all ages, although frequently applied to retired folks.

I am appalled at people who say to me, “Once your daughter is a teenager….” This is a statement made based on their experience with their own children. Experience has to be listened to, it cannot be ignored, but experience doesn’t set the parameters for every person. It is weighed and counted against that present situation. As a youth worker, I have spent time in many different situations and seen teenagers in action in a variety of ways. Teenagers

I have 2 daughters and both of them are very precious to me. One is aged 13 and the other is 9. When they were born, I love them both – before they were born actually! They then started to grow up and now one has hit the grand age of 13…..

So will I love them less. Will they suddenly become uncommunicative to me. I have discovered that the first one hasn’t. Some of you will be saying we know better we have had teenagers. Well your experience doesn’t have to match my experience.

I have experienced teenagers as a youth worker. I find them engaging, entertaining, challenging (my attitudes), rewarding, surprising and interesting. Teenagers have a love of life and a zest that can be energising (it can tire you out as well). They want to change the world and do it overnight! They want to experiment. They want to try new ideas and see what happens. They want to be released to fly. They want to be trusted.

And when my oldest gets to be 13 I am going to encourage her as much as possible and enjoy watching as she grows from a child into a woman. It is going to be fun. It is going to be painful. We will laugh and we will cry…. And through it all I want her to know I love her and will be there for her. I’ll try to steer her in the right direction but it will be her walk and I might disagree with the journey but I won’t stop it.

Teenagers – it’s time to get off their backs and to start to encourage and support them. Don’t moan, cheer.

I cannot stress the importance of detached youth work. I am sad that this important role has been lost and I feel society has become a lot shallower because of it.

Issues and concerns surrounding isolation, access to good public transport, deprivation and resilience, along with caring responsibilities become evident through the “one to one” listening’s with young people on street corners, bars, café’s, wherever.

A real sense of the challenges that young people face on a day to day basis has been grasped by wandering the streets of Cornwall and meeting them where they are at. They are “hard to reach” and when found provide examples of inequality. i.e. disability, poverty, education. These are all being witnessed first-hand.

There is a Statutory guidance for listening to children and young people! If the Government believes it to be that important, then start employing detached youth workers once again. They have the listening ear for young people.

Forbes asks the question, “Why isn’t your business listening to young people“?

More than ever, we need to sit and listen. Not give advice, not tell them something but listen… Be an active listener but use your ears. Being a teenager is a confusing and difficult time, transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Gaining independence and being granted more opportunities to make decisions for themselves… Teenagers seem to be ‘grown up’ on the outside. On the inside that world is uniquely different for every young person.

A while ago a wise mum deciding to make space for her two teenagers. She became aware of them growing apart. So, she made time for them. On Monday afternoon, she implemented her plan. She made tea in a tea pot (very grown up!) and put a plate of biscuits out and then sat down on the couch, Daughter one arrives and asks what are you doing? Mum said I wanted to give you a chance for a chat about school and today. Daughter then arrived, heard what was being said. Both took the biscuits and cleared off. Undaunted, she repeated the exercise throughout the week. On Thursday, one of the daughters stopped and said will you be here everyday waiting for us. The reply was yes and the daughter sat down and started chatting. On Friday both daughters sat and now every day, is a tea pot and biscuits day.

When I worked on the streets in London, I had several older folks on the team with me and they had a unique offering to give young people. One lady of 74 years asked two of the street lads would you like to come and have a cup of tea. Yes they said and they went home with her. Now there are a lot of reasons why this isn’t a good thing to do, but this woman wanted to give the boys a chance to be heard. At home she said she will be baking and would they like to make some cakes with her. One of the lads asked if they could make fairy cakes. She was surprised by this and asked why. The reply, “It was the last thing my mum cooked with me before she left home when I was 7”.

Be patient with young people. Give them opportunity. They need to feel they are being listened to and not being judged. When they express ideas, it is a real privilege. They don’t give them out a lot for fear of being rejected or laughed at. So listen. Don’t judge, don’t offer advice or be bossy (unless of course the advice is requested by the teenager), be an active listener. Say yes but a better answer showing active listening, Why do you feel… how did that…. what do you think. These questions encourage the listener to continue talking, they feel they are being heard. Show respect, it means a lot and don’t be afraid of silences. Don’t take how they behave personally.

It is a hard time for young people and it is getting harder. Change the world for one by listening!

the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights.

When it comes to working with young people, empowerment becomes an attitude all youth workers must adopt. The way we engage with young people should ensure that our working practice is always working towards young people taking control and running whatever is put on. Or stopping what you have put on and reordering into what they want.

Young people face too many hurdles that are unfair. The barriers they face are social, economic and political as they strive and struggle to find a voice in this world.

Empowerment is a process but it must start at this level. Giving them the skills they need to take charge now. They are not the future, they are the now.

I lead, You Watch
I lead, You Help

You lead, I help
You lead, I watch

Don’t forget Peter Pan. Not a boy who never grew up but a boy who understood the importance of play.

“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.”
― Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Roald Dahl sums it up perfectly. To play is to just get stuck in (with active abandonment. To enjoy yourself with no serious or practical motive. Often play is associated with children, they do it so well. To play like a child but as a man.

“Time is a game played beautifully by children.”
― Heraclitus, Fragments

Ditch your mobile phone, throw away your watch, take off your shoes and get stuck in. Roll around on the ground, climb a tree, forget time and have some fun.

I love living in Lostwithiel, I have a fantastic family and an amazing home. But I could pick my family up and move them anywhere. I could find a home in many different locations.

What community means to me is this.

This morning I woke up and took my dog for a walk. I saw Richard and spent 30 minutes walking through the park and chatting. He looks out for me, asks how I’m doing and we share. Richard is one of several people I meet in the morning.

I had breakfast with my family and then headed to school with them. Once at school I met and chatted with several parents and one of the parents said, “This school is amazing. Perfect for my kids.”

I then went home. I needed to return the car my garage has lent me whilst my own car is being repaired. On the way I headed to our local wood yard. All the guys said hello, asked how I was. They are amazing. They know that I cannot lift at the moment because of my operation and illness. They were concerned I was lifting too much and wanted to check all was okay. I can turn up with ideas and check out what they think and they throw in suggestions and then help me buy the best wood.

From there I returned the car to the garage. Both Richard’s asked how I was. They were concerned about my job. Richard the garage owner wanted to make sure all was well and that I had found another job.

I walked home and said Hi to Graham, the local gas fitter. He asked me how I was doing. I didn’t even realise he knew I was ill.

Throughout the day I have just stopped and chatted. Some people asking me how I am doing? Others just wanted to pass the time of the day. Lostwithiel is a community of 3000 and most of them seem to care. They spend time catching up with each other.

That is what community means to me.