Youth Voice Peer Power

Trust for the
Study of
Adolescence
Youth Voice
Peer Power
Youth Voice programmes at TSA 1998-2008
what
worked
"Youth Voice believes that young people can pass on their
knowledge of how to make the best of their lives to their peers
and that when they do this they learn useful skills, improve their
self esteem and increase their confidence." Core Advisory Team minutes.
www.yvpp.co.uk
The hist
ory of
Youth
voice pr
ojects
at TSA
Since 199
8T
projects w SA has managed
You
hich were
respondin th Voice
g to
• the ne
ed to pro
vide a pla
young pe
tform for
ople to e
xplore an
their idea
d express
sa
emotiona nd experience ab
out
l health a
nd
• the va
lue of
training a including this wis
dom in
nd
people an resources for you
ng
d adults
YouthVoic
e1
YV1 fund
ed
Health' co by the Community
nferences
F
in 8 town und, organised 'Yo
groups of
s in Engla
uth Matt
statutory
ers: Adole
nd. These
an
expressio
s
brought t
ns of their d voluntary sector
ogether m cent Mental
workers.
views thr
facilitatio
u
ltid
Yo
ou
n. By the
final confe gh drama, art wor ung people presen isciplinary
presentat
t
k
ed
r
,
e
local new
ion
nce 50%
sletters an creative
were you
newslette s were by 14-19 ye
th d
d worksh
ar-olds as
r. P
op
well as a d elegates and 50%
emotiona resentations and d
o
isplay of a
f the
l health w
isplays of
rt work a
ere show
France, Slo
nd
n across t art work and mess
vakia and
a
h
ges to adu a local
e country
Greece. T
day work
a
lts about
nd at inte
he projec
shop for 1
rnational
t’s ideas w
00 orpha
stimulate
co
ns of HIV
ere influe
d Youth F
/AIDS in
ntial in se nferences in
orums in
B
t
t
o
ing up the
several Af
tswana w
hich with
rican cou
f
YouthVoic
ntries.
UNESCO irst 6
e2
's help
YV2, fund
ed by the
Pidem Fu
Empower
nd, conce
ment and
ntr
surveyed
influencin
young pe ated on Self Conce
g their se
ople in En
pt and Yo
lf concep
gland and
uth
t.
Two majo
S
cotland a
r confere
b
o
ut factors
nces in Lo
Concept
ndon and
and Train
Manches
ing confe
ter explor
rences fo
"Emotion
ed the iss
r Youth C
al Health"
ues aroun
o
u
n
s
e
ll
o
a
rs continu
d Self
stressful e
CD of tra
ed the ex
ining mat
vents was
ploration
erials and
published
.
a DVD of
by TSA.
Evaluatio
young pe
n reports
ople talkin
of Brighto
On' and o
g about
n Coalitio
f a young
n for You
offenders
published
th (C4Y)
me
online as
participat
free down ntoring project 'T
ion projec
railblazer
loads at w
The surve
s
'
w
a
t
w
Aylesbury t 'One Year
.tsa.uk.co
y of Youn
m
YOI were
g
Pe
topics you
ng people ople's views was u
sed to de
c
work of t
sign a 6 p
he Core A onsidered were ce
art tool fo
ntral to se
dvisory Te
r
lf concep
am that c
t. It was c exploring
reated Yo
ore to the
Talking to others who
uth Voice
Peer Pow
you have never spoken
er.
to before, that makes you
more confident
Girl, 15
2 Youth Voice programmes at TSA 1998-2008 www.yvpp.co.uk
r
e
w
o
P
r
e
e
P
e
c
i
o
V
Youth
YouthVoice3
of 8
iverse group
d
a
s
a
w
m
a
isory Te
g for a
seek fundin
ice Core Adv
o
to
V
d
e
th
u
id
o
c
Y
e
d
e
Th
who
young
le and 3 staff
h issues with
lt
a
e
h
l
a
n
ways
o
ti
young peop
find creative
explore emo
d
n
a
to
s
e
ie
m
g
m
te
e
ra
ra
prog
s Youth Voic
ir coping st
a
e
w
th
e
h
m
rc
a
m
se
ra
g
ns
people, re
rs. That pro
le in 5 regio
e
p
o
th
e
o
p
g
to
n
n
u
o
o
e
of
ds of y
to pass thes
ched hundre
and a variety
a
re
te
si
h
b
ic
e
h
w
w
e
r
rough th
Peer Powe
any more th
m
d
n
a
d
n
la
of Eng
.
on methods
disseminati
by the
e was funded
m
m
ra
g
ro
p
oung
ve new
vulnerable y
citing, creati
y
x
ll
e
a
,
ti
d
n
te
te
e
c
o
a
p
if
h
ed wit
The mult
und and work
F
's
le
p
o
e
P
g
Youn
land to:
f
gions of Eng
in the area o
re
e
5
is
rt
in
e
p
le
x
p
e
o
e
d
p
pass
rience an
elp them to
eople's expe
h
p
d
g
n
n
a
u
s
o
y
ie
g
re
ing strate
• explo
alth and cop
e
h
l
a
n
o
ti
o
em
search,
eir peers
pics, peer re
to
this on to th
h
lt
a
e
h
l
ta
ities
skills in men
reative activ
c
d
d
n
a
n
a
n
o
ls
il
ti
a
sk
n
form
icipatio
• provide in
support, part
r
e
e
eas
p
d
n
a
g
rticipants’ id
a
p
mentorin
te
a
in
m
s to disse
tive activitie
a
y
re
c
f
o
e
g
n
er communit
id
w
a
• use a ra
to
h
lt
ng
a
onal he
roups of you
g
e
rs
e
about emoti
iv
d
h
ncies wit
f existing age
o
rk
o
w
e
th
• enhance
the projects
in
people
y
it
il
b
si
n
o
and resp
f new
participation
th
u
o
y
erse range o
se
iv
a
d
re
a
g
n
ti
• inc
e
e
vities
nce by m
skills and acti
w
ple's confide
e
o
n
e
f
p
o
g
t
n
n
u
e
o
y
developm
• increase
riencing the
e
p
hange in
x
e
d
n
a
le
ce positive c
peop
n
e
ri
e
p
x
e
to
ortunity
ople the opp
e
p
g
n
u
o
y
e
• giv
They are learning and
cept.
their self con
practicing debating and
negotiating skills – these will help
them in life and future employment
Teacher
Doing activities,
meeting new people,
the beautiful view!
Ski-ing and archery were new,
the first time I’ve done it!
Every time new people come,
it’s good to swap.
Rami, 22
In terms of YVPP it’s given the peer
supporters an opportunity to hone their
communication skills with strangers, to
listen, and be non-judgemental. They
did really well, and they
really rated that
experience.
Project worker
www.yvpp.co.uk Youth Voice programmes at TSA 1998-2008
3
Self concept and identity
We asked many young people about how you think, feel and see yourself
and what makes up your self concept and influences a sense of your own
identity. We divided their answers into six headings.
self Image
Body shape • style • attitudes
• fashion • music choices
“What I look like is only part of me
I like the way I look. I’ll look the
way I like.”
Relationships
Friend • adults at school or work
• strangers
“I’ve got some really good
relationships”
Work
School • College • exams
• acquaintances • roles
self concept and
Identity
“When I’ve done a good days work
I feel good about myself”
Health
Physical • mental
• healthy eating • living
Money
Possessions • spending
• saving • managing
If I really understand how
money works I can make
it work for me”
General
ideas • values • politics
• religion • spiritual • identity
“I’ll get much more of what
I want if my health is good”
“It's Ok for me to try out
different beliefs. I can still
be true to myself”
a list of coping strategies
These extracts are from a download on the www.yvpp.co.uk
website as part of a list of coping strategies:
•
•
•
•
•
Live every day as if it’s your last –but keep yourself safe
Find time to laugh
You can’t define normal so be yourself
An original is worth more than a copy
Remember bad pictures about endings fade like dreams
4 Youth Voice programmes at TSA 1998-2008 www.yvpp.co.uk
The Regio
nal Agen
cies
For full rep
orts on eac
h
agency see
the resourc
es on www
.yvpp.co.u
East Mid
k
lands This
student vo
D
ra
m
a
group, adv
lunteers, d
ised by Jen
evised and
for an audie
ni Dunbar
p
e
rformed a
nce of loca
with 2
play explor
l officials a
ing coping
nd friends.
strategies
West Mid
lands Nett
Supporters
a Cartwrig
in 6 schools
ht worked
to involve
with group
emotional
year 7 pup
s of year 10
health top
il
ics. They cre
s in trainin
Peer
online com
g
a
w
te
orkshops o
ic and reso
d and adve
u
n
r
rc
ti
from 6 sch
e for local
sed 'The B
ools suppo
uddy's Guid
schools to
rted this ac
support ne
e' an
young peo
w
h
iev
members.
ple from a
Staff
very wide ra ement which directl
y involved
nge of cult
over 200
ures and is
in
forming m
Bournem
any more.
o
leaders Kare uth Millennium
n Cowser a
Voluntee
nd Vince E
public awa
rs with the
dwards use
reness abo
ir youth
d a huge w
ut emotion
created an
hiteboard
al health an
d organise
to raise
d
d a quiz ab
active.
out emotio valuing of diversity. T
hey
nal health
and contin
ue to be
Brighton
Euphoric
funded by
Flash supp
Media Box
orted
were led b
by Brighto
using digit
y Helen Co
n Photo Bie
al cameras
m
nnial and
m
to
ack in a ser
explore em
Emotions'
ies of work
a training re
otions and
shops
create and
source of p
by TSA.
market 'Pic
ostcard im
ages and w
ture
orksheets p
ublished
Sunderla
n
d Young
were the N
Minds Ma
orthern Co
tter led b
re Advisory
programm
y Jean
Team and s
e. They sha
upported Y ette Chapman,
red their e
members to
xperti
VPP throu
each reside
ghout
ntial weeke se of work in Youth C
lubs and bro the
nd.
ught
Ban
dbazi Cir
cus skill
s group
group and
Cultures
the resourc Brighton BME g
Club dra
es for YVP
r
ma
o
u
p
u
s
P.
ed their
fi
particular s
kills to pilo
t
Core Staff
Being a peer supporter
helps you mature. You see
a childish kid and then you
see them mature and how they’ve
changed. The differences are….look at X,
we weren’t going to go to the residential
because of her, she used to kick off all the
time and be violent. But on the
residential she was a different person.
She used to be full of anger and
aggression. Now she’s becoming a
different person.
Male, 21
The agencies involved were supported by a team of
part time and freelance staff of:
Sue Shaw - Participation and Web site at TSA
Marilyn McGowan - Development and Training
Jo Brown - Design and Euphoric Flash project
Tracy Hind - Evaluator
Saskia Neary - Consultant training and participation
Anita Wilson - Consultant evaluator and young offenders
art exhibition.
Dorothy Eddi Piper - Project Manager at TSA
www.yvpp.co.uk Youth Voice programmes at TSA 1998-2008
5
d
n
a
s
l
a
i
t
n
Reside
s
e
i
t
i
v
i
t
c
a
ere
PP as they w
V
Y
in
t
n
a
ic
if
gn
s to
ls were very si tives from regional agencie
ia
t
n
e
id
s
e
R
senta
r.
nity for repre
skills togethe
the opportu
p
lo
e
v
e
d
d
n
ence a
ntred
share experi
as person ce
le
ib
ss
o
p
s
a
much
en the
sidentials as
spect betwe
nces
We ran the re couraging equality and re
g the differe
n
in
e
g
s,
d
ie
le
it
w
n
o
u
n
k
m
com
while ac
cy.
aged 14 - 65
ts
n
a
ip
of each agen
ic
ts
rt
n
a
e
p
m
e
v
ie
h
mme
ng the ac
in the progra
s
le
ro
d
and celebrati
n
a
s
e
with the
ants of all ag
ping so well
o
c
n
The particip
o
d
te
la
nce and
e congratu
ction, tolera
e
fl
re
lf
se
deserve to b
d
e
nd
which dema
experiences
others.
t to helping
, physical
commitmen
ies, art work
it
v
ti
c
a
d
le
and
cluded Youth
om agencies
in
fr
d
s
n
n
e
o
k
ti
e
e
ta
n
w
Each
s, prese
ussion group
c
is
d
s,
ie
it
v
ti
ac
eekend in
lots of fun.
residential w
e
v
si
n
te
in
ory
n
a
e Core Advis
s devised in
a
th
w
d
t
e
c
je
rm
ro
fo
p
The
ho then
to 30
articipants w
tered for up
p
a
c
1
1
ls
y
a
b
ti
n
4
e
0
d
of
0
si
2
piloted some
he 3 main re
T
9
.
f
P
o
P
p
V
u
Y
f
ro
o
g
Team
dential
inter
Practical Po
ear and a resi
y
e
h
th
c
a
e
e
se
le
il
p
ta
o
pe
re de
rials. For mo
eekend on
the final mate nd the reports of each w
als a
on Residenti
o.uk.
www.yvpp.c
End of residential
A conversation in the car at the end of this
week’s session went thus;
A I wish we were still on residential – I wish
we’d stayed longer
I Yeah, I wished we’d stayed for a week – next
time can we stay a week?
M I could have stayed for a year, like a boarding
school place, I would have gone to school then.
6 Youth Voice programmes at TSA 1998-2008 www.yvpp.co.uk
Creativ
e Arts,
Skills S
were e
haring,
ssentia
Mentor
Each agen
l
element
ing and
cy increas
s throu
Peer Su
ed their s
explore e
ghout t
pport
kills in me
motional
h
ntoring a
e progr
health to
weekends
n
p
d
ics and fo
amme
peer supp
. Participa
r fun in r
ort. Cre
nts wo
regio
egional w
ative arts
r
ns and at
orkshops
were used
national m ked to share their
and natio
skills and
to
eetings.
See Pract
n
e
a
xperience
ical Point
s with oth l residential
ers on Cr
eativity, P
ers both in
eer Suppo
the
rt and The
Programm
Particip
e Ethos.
ation
YVPP aim
ed
and to inv to influence agenc
ies to dev
olve youn
e
g people
regional w
across the lop participation s
orkshops
kills and a
c
o
pr
un
make con
ctivities in
tact throu oved the most effe try in developing
the
Y
gh email
c
V
t
learning w
iv
P
e
P
.
w
T
a
h
y of comm
e resident ir work
and webs
as that m
ia
it
u
e
ls and
nicating,
an
was surpr
access to
but our e
isingly, no
computer y young people in
ndea
ts
the group
s and tha
access on
t schools
s we were o successful. An im vours to
school co
h
a
p
w
ve to deli
mputers.
berately u orking with did no ortant
See Pract
nblock yo
t have eas
ical Point
uth webs
ers on Co
ites to allo y
mmunicat
Monitor
ion.
w
ing and
Evaluat
A wide ra
ion
nge of me
thods wa
Staff met
s
us
regularly
to monito ed to monitor and
The mon
r
e
progress
itor visite
and share valuate the projec
YVPP has helped broaden
d regiona
young pe
ts.
e
xperience
l agencies
ople and
these young people’s
a
nd expert
and collec
staf
concept a
horizons, helped dismantle
ise.
ted inform
nd look a f. Each residential
ation from
barriers of difference and
attempte
t the deve
interested
d to evalu
lopment
strengthened young people’s
in finding
ate chang
of sk
out what
Practical
peer relationships.
e in self
the partic ills for participants
Pointers
Evaluation report
ipants exp
. We were
- Evaluatio
er
m
n Report fo
Euphoric
r full deta ienced. See downlo ost
Flash for
ils and th
adable
more exa
e monito
methods
m
r
s
p
r
le
e
port on
s of monit
used.
oring
There is much
evidence from young
people and
professionals working with them
that the YVPP initiatives have
enhanced young people’s confidence,
self-esteem and helped develop their
abilities, skills and knowledge.
Evaluation report
www.yvpp.co.uk Youth Voice programmes at TSA 1998-2008
7
Spreading the Word
Each agency decided on its own way of disseminating what had
been learned and all contributed to the published resources.
Emotional Health
A DVD/CD training pack
designed for use in training
professionals. The DVD features
young people talking about
emotional issues. The CD
contains exercises based on
sections of the DVD and covers
seven aspects of adolescent
mental health.
Resources created
by Youth Voice
at TSA
Emotions Work
A CD of worksheets about self
concept and emotional health
for use with young people.
Picture Emotions
A resource of images
created by young people to
explore emotions with a
booklet of guidelines and
worksheets for use in drama,
emotional health, creative
writing, PSHE, counselling
and for training adults.
2
Does wor1
rying help
?
Y0U decide..
What m.
a
good fr kes a
iend?
is it...
Think of som
“Emotions work”
ething that
has
Young people, self esteem
and coping strategies
mad
What helped
Trust for the
Study of
to change the
e you worr y?
Som
eone wh
o helps
you wh
som
en you
eone wh
are dow
o unders
n?
tands
som
and acc
eone to
epts you
have fun
as you
with?
are?
WH
at do you
think mak
es a goo
d friend?
situation?
How does worr
your mood...y ying affect
our behaviou
your health?
r...
A collection of easy to use and
photocopiable worksheets for young people
to consider how they see themselves and
their relationships with others
What can you
of worr ying do instead
...
1.
Adolescence
2.
© TSA 2009
Emotions Work
• www.yvpp
.co.uk • Youth
Voice Peer
© TSA 2009
What’s
import
ant to
you abo
ut you
r friends
3.
?
Power
Emotions
Work
• www.yv
pp.co.uk
• Youth
Voice
Peer Power
Free Downloadable materials
As well as this project report YVPP What Worked the YVPP Practical Pointers are a series of information
sheets for download which aim to pass on useful information and more details about the YVPP programme.
They have useful tips and positive experiences of interest to practitioners in similar work.
The free downloads of project reports can be obtained on the TSA website www.tsa.uk.com and on the YVPP
website www.yvpp.co.uk.
The Youth Voice Peer Power web site www.yvpp.co.uk is now for information only.
As well as the Practical Pointers and What Worked reports it contains:
• details of all the agencies involved in the programme and the work that they have done
• reports of each residential weekend with pictures and comments from young people,
programmes and exercises used on the weekend
• detailed information about all the participating agencies
• the project monitor’s report
• further worksheets and information of interest to young people and to the adults
who work with them
• galleries of images of various activities in the programme
• a great Pencil Pals game where you can still try your hand at beating the misery bugs.
Trust for the
Study of
Adolescence
TSA Ltd
23 New Road
Brighton BN1 1WZ
Tel: 01273 693311
Fax: 01273 679907
Email: [email protected]
www.tsa.uk.com
The resources produced from the Youth Voice Peer Power project can be purchased from TSA
publications www.tsa.uk.com/publications or email: [email protected]
The YVPP Project Report What Worked and the information sheets Practical Pointers and
other online resources created by Youth Voice projects can be downloaded free from
www.tsa.uk.com or from the Youth Voice Peer Power web site www.yvpp.co.uk
Design & Print: Creative Media Colour Ltd. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01273 555590
Illustrations © Jane Launchbury. Tel: 01725 514546 Email: [email protected]
Photos © TSA, apart from photo p.2 and bottom right corner p.7 are posed by models.