Young People’s Voice
As a young person living in Kirklees you have a right to have a say on what happens in your area and share your views on how things could be improved.
Whether it be where you live, the things you enjoy doing or services that help to keep you happy, safe and well – if you think you can help improve these things then Our Voice can support and offer you the platforms to create a change.
Our Voice has a range of projects and activities to help you to share your views with the people who make decisions on issues that affect your daily lives.
Who we are:
We are a small team, passionate about strengthening the voice and influence of children and young people. We have a background in youth & community work, social care, education and health. Our Voice works with children and young people across the Kirklees area and is based in the Yorkshire Children’s Centre in Huddersfield. We are part of Kirklees Council’s Children’s Services.
Empowering Children & Young People:
We believe that children and young people have the right to be involved in decisions that affect them. Children and young people’s participation is essential to improve services, respond to their needs and create positive change.
We’ve been working to involve young people in important decisions since 1996. We are award winning! We’ve worked with 1,000’s of young people over the years to help them join in, have a voice, develop their skills and make a difference.
Our Principles & Values:
Young people led –
Our Voice is directly lead by the young people who choose to actively participate in the programme and in turn indirectly by those they represent. We strive to be inclusive and in doing so aim for the voices, ideas and input of young people in Kirklees to be present at every level of service delivery.
Collaboration and Co-production –
The Our Voice Programme encourages young people to work realistically and enthusiastically with others locally, regionally and nationally to pull together opportunities, ideas and resources that enable young people to thrive. We will also share our knowledge, learning and best practice with others with the ambition that all young people in Kirklees benefit from our work as much as possible.
Unleashing Potential –
Our Voice aims to positively highlight and demonstrate the huge added value working in partnership with young people can offer to the delivery of services. We will always actively encourage others to realise and utilise the wealth of knowledge and understanding young people hold about their own lives and lived experiences. In turn will use this to create meaningful opportunities for them to help shape service delivery in Kirklees.
Resilience & Future Building –
Supporting young people to shape their own futures and creating an environment that enables this is fundamental to the principles of Our Voice. We aim to nurture young people’s enthusiasm and interest enabling them to build their resilience and aspirations both as individuals and as a collective.
What we offer:
Our Voice offers creative and fun activities and projects designed to give you lots of opportunities to use your voice and share your ideas. This includes:
- Young Researchers
- Young Inspectors
- Young Advisors
- Campaigns
- Recruitment Panels
- Quick polls and surveys
- Team Young Mayor
How to get involved:
Any young person aged 11 to 18 who lives, works or attends a school or college in Kirklees can join Our Voice.
It’s flexible. You can give as much or as little of your time as you like. You decide when and how you want to participate.
Sign up here, then every month we’ll send you an email offering exciting activities and opportunities. Some might take 10 minutes, others longer. You choose which you’d like to do. And if there are none that interest you – then that’s OK too.
Connect with us:
We want to connect with other organisations who do great work to support children and young people in achieving their potential. Check out below other groups, projects and opportunities for young people in Kirklees.
Contact us:
Simply drop us a line at ourvoice@kirklees.gov.uk
You can also follow and contact us via social media:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourvoicekirklees
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ourvoice.kirklees
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ypourvoice
