Principles of Youth Participation
Before involving young people in any decision-making, there are a number of steps that will help to ensure good youth participation practice. The following principles are tools to support you in involving young people meaningfully and effectively in decision-making.
Step One
Organisational commitment
- Support staff doing youth participation
- Do a presentation to staff/management about the benefits of youth participation for your organisation.
- Allocate adequate resources
- Consider the unusual budget requirements you might need.
- Offer real roles and relevant issues to young people
- How you can involve young people who have experience and interest in the issue /decision?
- Value young people's contribution
- What are the different ways young people's contributions can be recognised and their participation celebrated?
- Involve young people from the beginning to the end of the process
- Think about involving young people in developing the objectives and evaluating the project.
Step Two
Create space for young people's involvement
- Acknowledge young people's cultural beliefs and values
- How can you interest and retain young people from different cultural backgrounds?
- Invite a diverse range of young people to participate
- Talk to youth workers/youth organisations in your community for advice on how to connect with young people who would not normally get involved.
- Ensure participation opportunities are accessible
- What would be a youth-friendly time and place to hold a consultation for young people in your community?
- Inform young people about opportunities and that they are under no obligation to participate
- Do you have good information for young people about the commitments and expectations of being involved in a youth advisory group?
- Recognise participation is beneficial to young people
- What will young people get out of their involvement in the youth participation opportunity?
Step Three
Create a youth friendly environment
- Build positive relationships between your organisation and young people
- What opportunities could young people have to meet face-to-face with key decision makers in your organisation?
- Develop a sense of belonging and security for young people
- What kinds of things could your organisation do to develop trust with a new youth advisory group?
- Create youth participation that is fun and challenging
- What kinds of icebreakers and energisers could you use in a focus group activity?
- Provide young people with information about the issue and decision-making process
- Consider what kind of information, orientation and training you need to provide to help young people develop informed opinions and encourage their full participation.
- Provide young people with timely feedback about the decision-making process and how their input was used.
- How will you keep young people updated and informed about the decision-making process?