As part of our ongoing work to make sure young voices are heard in the community, we’ve been working closely with the Participation Team at Torbay Council Children’s Services for the past two years.
This term, we were delighted to welcome Sophie De Sousa, along with colleagues Andrea and Matt, to one of our sessions. Their visit was all about gaining insight into the language professionals use when writing reports on children, young people and families and the impact it can have.
The Torbay team also shared a questionnaire and some information documents about what to expect when working with a paediatrician. They wanted honest feedback from our group to find out whether the documents felt useful and accessible for young people in their age range. It’s so important that young people are part of these conversations. At some point, many will have to fill out forms or access a service and too often we hear things like:
“Is this form for me?”
“There wasn’t enough information.”
“It didn’t make sense?”
By involving young people directly in these discussions, especially when the topic will have a real impact on their lives, they can help shape positive change and make services better for everyone.
We also really appreciate that the Torbay Council team coming to Doorstep groups rather than asking young people to go to another meeting somewhere else. That makes such a difference and is a real step in the right direction.
We’re really happy to continue building this relationship with the council team and a special thank you to Sophie for always bringing your passion for this work and of course… the much-loved stickers, which the young people absolutely love.
