Practical Participation

My latest SlideShare upload: http://slidesha.re/gfBzh6

I have just finished a caffeine induced rush of a presentation on participation risks at a time of change to colleagues in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Thanks to an 80 minute delay on the train from Newcastle, I managed to have ready a series of photographs to illustrate the conversation.

I started with Talha Ghannam’s deep thought about why we do what we do and the notion of intention in Islam: the intention of:

• The miser – what do I get out of this?
• The trader – so, how does this pan out
• The lover – we do what we do because it is the right thing to do.

(www.rightspace.org.uk)

And two reflections based on pictures and words from two young carers in Leeds.

Georgia, young carer, aged 12: participation may start as transactional, but grows to be about relationship, being and belonging

Caitlin, young carer, aged 9

1. My life – participative democracy that makes a difference to me
2. Our voice – representational democracy that can have wider influence
3. Poor attempts at representational democracy, disconnected from lived lives

Then some reflections on 10 participation risks:

Participation risk 1: no discernable change?

Poor community engagement leads to disconnection, sense of betrayal and no discernable change

Participation risk 2: veneer covering up the cracks of poverty and social exclusion

Participation risk 3: come and join me in my organisation to do my stuff

When are adults supporting young people on their terms on their issues?

Participation risk 4: collective rights to participate are only valid and relevant where underpinned by individual rights, freedoms and civil liberties

Participation risk 5: who participates and who profits?

Participation risk 6: another brick in the wall – our attitudes may have changed but have our behaviours in supporting children and young people to make change happen where they live?

Participation risk 7: we live here too; what progress toward being equal citizens now?

Participation risk 8: prejudice and discrimination toward the young are all around us. What do you see?

Participation risk 9: change happens! Make sure we notice, share and celebrate.

Participation risks? 10: Joy in children and childhood in the public space

Participation rights: a human right and a procedural right; built in as the keystone and not attached as an outhouse.

I’d be keen to hear your thoughts. How do these ten risks match your reality and what is the best way to counter-act them?

Bill

Practical Participation