In July, Peer Power Youth hosted the ‘Voices of Resilience’ event aimed to showcase findings on our recent project to address the growing concerns around youth violence, gang grooming, knife crime, and exploitation in Sussex at AudioActive, Worthing.
Peer Power Youth, is a national charity, that works alongside young people to solve young people’s issues, leading with empathy and on strengths.
The project produced a peer led report through engaging with young people through applied theatre/spoken word, music/lyricism, and sports for development.
The event shared these findings in creative ways as young people hosted, co-produced, interviewed and performed poetry and songs throughout an inspirational evening. We saw song performances from Too Cold & Cee Roadz and Lil Gucci.
Tanvir, Meg and Anika, hosted and shared the key findings of the report, sharing that there must be empathetic, trusting relationships made with young people to reduce youth violence as well as having professionals with lived experience who reflect their diverse background and early intervention and better support structures in local youth services in schools.
When asked about whether there is enough support in their local area, a resounding 96% of young people stated, ‘No’.
We recognise this project has only been made possible following the funding Peer Power Youth received from The Blagrave Trust. Additionally, we would like to thank those we worked in partnership with at The Russell Martin Foundation, Audio Active, Worthing Theatres & Museum and West Sussex Mind.
“The system isn’t built to encourage young people to speak up. There are barriers deliberately put in place to block or push back developments in youth voice. The only way to solve it is break it down and build it back up again.”
“Statutory service providers, local authorities, local MPs, and councillors should actively engage with youth organisations to identify and eliminate barriers to youth voice.”
“We need an independent governing body, one that is developed for and by young people with lived experience.”
“Make it mandatory to include children and young people from the council’s local area to ensure the most relevant voices are being heard and valued.”
“Unite local youth forums, advisory boards, and trustee groups with stakeholders to establish localised, independent governing bodies that leverage the power of lived experience, with a focus on transitions in care and justice sectors.”
“Local mentorship programmes are a great way to further support in schools, future education prospects and work experience.”
“Invest in local mentorship programmes, especially those from third-sector providers, and integrate them into schools, colleges, and apprenticeship programmes.”
“All services, statutory or otherwise, should make a clear pledge to challenge discriminatory practice, and share how young people can challenge these practices if they experience it.”
“Young people need to know the correct complaints processes for organisations and support services to ensure their voices are listened to and actioned.”
“If schools aren’t teaching us more about county lines and knife crime, how can we count on them to protect us and most importantly, be able to protect ourselves?”
“Designate county lines and knife crime as official public health concerns. This means drawing on the approach professionals use to tackle disease.”
To learn more about our event read our Voices of Resilience report here.
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Peer Power Youth is a national charity that leads with empathy and does vital work to support young people who have experienced trauma.
We care for young people, sometimes at the most difficult times in their lives, and we give them the time they need, for as long as they need.
We build on strength and lead with empathy, we know what’s needed to build trusted relationships and improve support services, because many of us have had similar experiences.
Keep up with the latest on empathy, co-production and youth-led system change.
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