In today’s blog Zoe takes us through a new resource, exploring the vital role of Youth Voice in our work.
In September this year, Arts Council England (ACE) shared a Youth Voice resource, which really chimed with Highly Sprung. It reminded us to consider how we are consulting, listening and acting on what young people tell us. Working together with young people is at the core of everything we do. Let’s take a look at three of the four Youth Voice strands, and dive into what Highly Sprung have been up to this year:
Creative co-production
Leading creative work with young people
- Anthology – 12 young people aged 13-16 took part in the project as co-creators, on a poetry project designed to work with young people facing disadvantage to improve their educational outcomes. As part of the project, they created their own poetry and worked with the professional performers in the rehearsal room to animate their words. The young people appreciated the opportunity to work with professional artists as co-creators:
“They listened to us and really took on board our suggestions without hesitation or being offended.”
“Working with people who have a real love and passion for poetry and seeing how much it can really change people.”
- Sprung Youth – Working with the members of Sprung Youth to create performances (currently Shakespeare inspired!). Often the performance theme or story comes out of conversation had in sessions with Sprungs (especially for the Physical Fellowship headline performance) and then, through creative tasks, the young people explore their ideas and can see the movement they create form part of the final performances.
- Young Producers Collective – Skills development & arts enrichment for 17 young people experiencing disadvantage, to gain knowledge of the role of producer. The YPC then applied this as part of the delivery of a festival in a professional theatre working to welcome nearly 400 young people, and present to nearly 800 audience members. As a result of the project those young people felt more informed, confident and inspired.
“I am more confident in working in a team of producers and planning an event together (rather than just performing together).”
Listening and consultation
Harnessing listening skills and consultation methods to increase inclusion
- Steering committees (Play Days) – Young people aged 13 -18 forming the steering committee to help shape the Play Days – helping the local area to regain a sense of community. The young people designed and produced activities for the 2 outdoor (in local parks) and 1 indoor Play Days.
Youth boards and governance
Providing structures for listening to and involving young people
- Youth Advisory Board – Now in its third year, our Youth Advisory Boar (YAB) currently consists of 10 young people aged 15 –21, who meet four times a year to help shape the future of Highly Sprung. We listen to their thoughts and opinions, and act on their recommendations. Recent recommendations included the desire for a teen-only Play Day (which was produced as Game On), and suggestions around safeguarding – discussing how Highly Sprung’s young people know they are being safeguarded, and know that Highly Sprung is a safe space to raise concerns.
“I think it’s a really important part of Sprung, helping to incorporate the young voice into the charity.”
- Young Trustee Intention – Highly Sprung have made clear their intention to have at least one Young Trustee on our Board, with the YAB as a training ground for potential future Trustees. When Highly Sprung recruit new trustees, opportunities will also be shared through young trustee specific boards (e.g. the Young Trustee Movement) and a number of the current YAB are beginning to work through online training to upskill them for future trusteeship.