Safeguarding against Tokenism

1
Safeguarding against Tokenism A Partnership
between Investing in Children and The National
Youth Agency Hear by Right Liam Cairns and Bill
Badham
2

• What are we going to do
• Why?
• Strategic approach
• Credibility
• Partnership

3

• Why
• A matter of human rights
• Social justice
• Challenging discrimination
• Promoting an emancipatory discourse

4
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Participation

Article 12
Protection
Provision
Children and young people fulfilling their
potential
5

• The nature of the challenge
• Sociology of childhood challenging the dominant
  discourse
• Third class citizens
• Demons or angels
• Fellow citizens now
• Participants in dialogue and change

6
Childhood is a social construct The innocent
child, in need of protection The reckless child,
in need of control The child as a work in progress
7
The child moves through Whitehall growing and
shrinking like Alice in the Department of
Health she is small potential victim, at the
Treasury and the Department of Education a
growing but silent unit of investment, but at the
Home Office a huge and threatening yob. Seaford,
2001
8
Cottages Reeth Richmond Spotlessly clean
properties in 2 acres of grounds, maintained by
resident owners. Excellent views. Private river
frontage. Ample parking
No pets / children
9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11

• What to do about it a strategic approach
• The Hear by Right 7
• Investing in Children 4
• Travelling in the same direction

12

• What to do about it a strategic approach
• The Hear by Right 7

13

• What to do about it a strategic approach
• Investing in Children 4
• Consultancy
• Practice support
• Staff Development and Training Trainers
• Evaluation of membership

14

• Investing in Children Membership Scheme
• Evidence of dialogue
• Evidence of Change
• Evidence supplied by children and young people

15

• In County Durham 230 members and 75 applicants
  including
• Schools
• Nurseries
• Children Hospital Wards
• GP Practices
• Libraries and museums
• Police Stations
• Youth Clubs
• Pupil Support teams
• Social Services teams
• Family Centres
• Leisure Centres
• Voluntary Organisations
• Elected members

16

Credibility A question of credibility
Organisational change or change where I live
my life or both?
17

• How will the partnership work?
• Stand alone or
• Joint 3 year development programme
• Scope
• Hear by Right priorities
• Staff development
• Practice support
• Membership

18

• Partnership
• Benefits of a partnership
• Increased learning through a community of
  practice
• Children and young people
• Practitioners
• Policy makers

19

Safeguarding against tokenism Who does this
belong to?