Giving young people a voice

Giving young people a voice and a role in decision making is seen as the "latest thing" but how much of what we say and so is actually getting through?

London's first ever young mayor, Emanuel Hawks, believes that attitudes are changing and young people are being taken seriously:

"I have been elected into office and have a budget of £25,000 that will need to be accounted for. I'll be working in partnership with my advisory group in representing the young people of Lewisham."

For a 15-year-old - even though he looks a lot older!!! - £25,000 is a lot of pocket money and Emanuel has big plans:

"The money is to spend on projects that I outlined in my manifesto. They include setting up workshops including art, music and drama where young people can discuss issues…and have somewhere to go instead of hanging out on street corners."

"I think there are assumptions that we all conform to stereotypes. Lots of young people are motivated and focused with ambitions beyond the typical 'youth culture'. I believe engaging us in the process will force adults to take notice."

It's not only initiatives like the election of Emanuel in Lewisham which are making adults sit up and listen to what we have to say, large media organisations like the BBC are also "jumping on the bandwagon".

This month a group of young people will be taking controls of the BBC's Question Time programme. Not only will the audience in the special episode be made up entirely of young people, so will the production team.

Thao Le, 14, from Northumberland Park School in North London, is one of the young people taking part in Question Time and believes the programme will make a difference:

"They [adults] might take us more seriously and understand our opinions and realise how mature we really are," he says.

A lot of young people will agree with what Emanuel and Thao are saying. We are used to adults not taking us seriously just because we are young. It seems that some adults think young people are too young to be wise but surely there is no age limit on being wise!

"I think everybody is wise in different ways," says Aaron Mavinga, 16, from Origin, a South London based youth group. "Adults just have more experience because they have lived longer. Even being streetwise is a type of wisdom and I know some adults can't test us young ones on that."

"I hate it when adults say things like 'they're only kids'. It's annoying when they call us 'kids' when they don't like what we're doing but when they expect us to do something we're young men and women. Not all adults are the same but there is always that one that wants to talk to you like a baby," he adds.

Aaron has a point because when children act silly, adults don't like it - almost as if they have forgotten that they were once young and exactly the same.

Although we have found strong cases that show more consideration is being given to young people and what they have to say, things like children's television reveals that in some cases not enough is being done.

Saturday morning TV and shows like Blue Peter treat us like silly toddlers and not young people with minds. At least shows like Sesame Street taught us things in a fun way, now all we see is people getting "gunked" all the time.

Aaron feels strongly about this: "Saturday morning TV isn't worth getting up for anymore. T4 is ok but there are still not really any programmes appealing and relating to people like us. Old poppy music and kids cartoons need to fix up before I start cutting my lie-ins short!"

In recent months some groundbreaking things relating to young people have been happening, so this must be a positive step? Emanuel thinks it is and says things are definitely moving forward:

"This campaign in Lewisham is showing how adults are already engaging young people in the political process. My advice is to continue to make sure that young people feel that they have a voice and that they can make a difference nationally and locally."

But Jamaine Pryce, 17, also from Origin believes that young people can still achieve more:

"We run our own film nights, but young people can still do more to control what they do, how and when they do it. Basically more young people need to do things so adults have no choice but to take us seriously."

So in theory things seem to be changing for the better. Compared to before, a lot more organisations are now asking us what we think. Maybe it is really just a matter of time. Finally the days of sulking and crying for attention might be a thing of the past.

Adam	Jane

About the team

This story was produced by Adam Jogee, 12 and Jane Kendzerski, 14. It was published by Reach for the Sky website.