Inclusion is about recognising that everyone brings their own experiences, identities, strengths and perspectives. When we make space for those differences, we can learn from one another and create stronger relationships, services and communities.
Our work with young people is rooted in the belief that young people are experts in their own lives. Their voices should help shape the decisions, services and systems that affect them.
That’s why co-production and meaningful participation are so important to us. Inclusion isn’t about making decisions for people. It’s about creating opportunities to make decisions with them.
This National Inclusion Week, we’re reflecting on three things that we believe are at the heart of meaningful inclusion: listening, acting and belonging.
Inclusion starts with listening; making space for people to share their experiences, perspectives and ideas and being open to hearing what they have to say.
At Peer Power Youth, we believe that young people are experts in their own lives. Their experiences matter, and they should have opportunities to influence the decisions, services and systems that affect them.
But listening is about more than simply giving someone an opportunity to speak. It’s about paying attention to whose voices might be missing. It’s about being curious about experiences that are different from our own. And it’s about creating environments where people feel safe enough to be honest.
Listening only becomes meaningful when it leads to action. For us, we’re prepared to change, adapt and challenge the way things are done when young people tell us something isn’t working.
It’s about moving beyond consultation towards genuine participation and co-production by working with young people rather than simply doing things for them.
The important thing is that young people’s voices have influence. We won’t always get everything right. Acting inclusively is also being willing to recognise when something isn’t working, learn from it and try something different, working alongisde young people to do that
Ultimately, listening and acting help create a sense of belonging.
Belonging means knowing that you matter. It’s feeling able to be yourself without having to hide parts of who you are and knowing that your experiences and ideas are valued and that you have something to contribute.
For young people, that sense of belonging can be particularly powerful. When young people feel that they are respected, trusted and valued, they can be the changemakers and shape services themselves.
This National Inclusion Week, we’re celebrating the different experiences, identities and perspectives that make our communities stronger.
We’re also challenging ourselves to keep asking:
Who isn’t being heard?
What can we do with what we hear?
How can we create spaces where everyone feels they belong?
At its core, inclusion requires being listened to, having the opportunity to influence change, and knowing that you belong.
About Peer Power Youth
Peer Power Youth exists to make support services better for children and young people who’ve experienced trauma, including childhood abuse, neglect, exclusion, injustice and violence.
Through empathy and trusted relationships, we support young people to see their strengths, build their confidence and leadership skills.
Peer Power Youth’s Empathy Led Model (ELM) provides training, coaching and action learning programmes designed to help organisations strengthen trauma-informed, relational and youth led practice.
Keep up with the latest on empathy, co-production and youth-led system change.
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