It's Time Young Volunteers Were Put in Charge

We’ll all be aware of how young people as volunteers can benefit communities, service development, delivery and provide an excellent opportunity for young people to develop their skills, understanding and gain experience for further education and employment.

But are organisations ready for young people to be involved as volunteers at a strategic level – more than just designing a poster or being consulted with, but in deciding on council spending on services, involvement in decision making on local, regional and national programming and being equal parties on statutory bodies such as the Children’s Trust Board?

Some of the issues faced by young people is an unwillingness of the system to devolve power to them as a cohort, or to be piece meal in their approach. For example, it is currently exam time for thousands of young people across the country – how many councils, national governing bodies (sports), national charities and central government have new initiatives, agenda’s or projects that are being consulted on during this time that affect young people?

There is also the concern that young people can’t be controlled. What if they come up with an idea that is challenging to the organisation? Or ask to be involved in other decisions? The 10 year strategy for Positive Activities produced by the Treasury last year expects local authorities to devolve an increasing proportion of their funding for positive activities to young people’s influence – up to 5% of their budget for youth services in 2010 and 2011, with an aspiration of 25% by 2018. Can local authorities cope with this power shift?!

Time is always a big factor / excuse* (delete accordingly!). Over the last 12 years of working within youth volunteering or youth participation, I have had countless requests to involve young people in service planning and development with a one week turn around. Where possible I endeavour to return the request with an options paper outlining the level of involvement one week’s notice will bring, and the difference that an extra three weeks might be (from an email / phone conversation with 5 young people through to a full day event for 50 young people).

The big challenge for managers, large organisations and local authorities is in recognising that involvement of young volunteers can take longer to ensure it is not tokenistic, and use up more resources (in providing briefing sessions ahead of meetings so that where knowledge is power, young people have had the chance to prepare ahead with workers).

This recognition, along with being clear about roles, expectations, having excellent support and the chance for young people to influence, challenge and work collaboratively with workers at every level in organisations is what makes strategic involvement of young volunteers a success and can lead to fantastic outcomes both individually and organisationally.

Posted by Emma Sparrow, Associate Director (Youth Engagement) at Red Foundation