Young People in Focus

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YouthVoice2:

Self Concept and Youth Empowerment Project

This is a three-year project funded by the Pidem Fund. It is currently exploring Young People's experiences and views about self concept related to activities broadly encompassed by the heading 'youth empowerment'. This includes activities in the areas of consultation, participation, campaigning and peer support.

The project has evolved from the work in the training and development department of TSA on mental health, emotional development and counselling and in the research department of TSA on social action.

A web site www.YV2.org is the main means of communication between the young people and staff involved. The project aims to encourage participation by young people who, for a range of reasons, might not usually take part in consultation exercises

Core Advisory Team (CAT)

The Core Advisory Team meets twice yearly to monitor the project and advise on development. This team consists of 4 adult workers and eight young people. The Scottish Core Advisory Team was formed in June 2004 and will meet again in November with 3 staff members and 6 young people.

There is a closed message board for members of the Core Advisory Team (CAT) to discuss their views and to create an evaluation tool about changes in self-concept, which might be used by young people to recognise changes in themselves.

2002/2003

In the first year of the project information was collected about related activities and a Conference in Manchester presented research and examples of good practice.

An evaluation report 'One Year On' on the activities of a consultation and campaigning project, The Coalition 4 Youth in Brighton and Hove, was completed and is available on the TSA web site.

In Glasgow a series of consultations with young people around issues of self- harm and about resources in the City was completed.

Materials about Self-esteem are being developed for use by young people in relevant programmes for teachers and youth workers.

Peer Support Forum

This forum promotes good practice in Peer support and related activities. YV2 worked with the forum to help include young people in a consultation day.

Web site open to new members

In August 2004 the web site will have an open membership for young people who can access the Internet in the UK and other countries.
Members will be encouraged to share their experiences about changes in their self-concept and participation or peer support activities. They will also be asked to consider what resources, skills and characteristics of helping agencies and individuals they would prefer.

Young People Contributing to the International Association for Counselling

A specific brief is to contribute to the deliberations of the International Association for Counseling giving young people's opinions and experiences about counselling related topics. As well as more traditional counselling, these will include the areas of peer support, mentoring, buddying, befriending and peer education.

Ongoing work

In Autumn 2004 young people will attend a residential weekend to work on the self-concept tool and to assist in the preparation of training materials for publication on topics of young peoples mental health.
In Spring 2005 a conference will bring together the young people who have been involved in the project to disseminate outcomes to interested adults.

Current need

In August 2004 the web site is www.yv2.org will be open to anyone to participate in the discussions. We are currently seeking to encourage participation online from young people in widely differing contexts. They will need to have access to the Internet and be able to communicate in English. We hope that new members will include young people in different countries of different ages and abilities.

As well as the development of a message board we will be providing exercises and activities online, which will contribute to share information about young people's perceptions about self-concept and activities that promote positive change. We anticipate that some of these new members will belong to groups, possibly led by youth workers or teachers, who might use the materials as part of their ongoing work.

Staff involved

• Carol Mulineux : One Year On Report
• Saskia Neary: Self Concept Tool
• Marilyn McGowan: Scottish CAT : Self Harm consultations
• Dorothy Eddi Piper: Coordinator.

Taking part

To take part in the project please e-mail: epiper.tsa@ntlworld.com Dorothy Eddi Piper: Principal Co-ordinator Mental Health and Youth Empowerment: TSA.
Direct contact: 42 Holland St., Brighton BN2 9WB tel/fax 01273 686341 www.yv2.org

Trust for the Study of Adolescence (TSA)
23 New Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1WZ, UK.
Tel: 01273 693311 Fax: 01273 679907