CITIZENSHIP IN SCOTLAND |
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A project to give young people with disabilities more say in decisions
and policy making. This project was made possible through Children
in Scotland and Diana, Princess
of Wales Memorial Fund. Contents: Background & Aims What Matters ? Now & The Future. Events. Contact Information. BACKGROUND & AIMS Background The two-year project, funded by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, is primarily concerned with involving young people with learning disabilities - a group that is at particular risk of being under represented in decision-making processes. In May 2001 Citizenship in Practice started by finding out what young people's interests and concerns were and developed work to focus on addressing their issues. To find out more, see: 'What Matters to Me'. Project Aim Children in Scotland's Citizenship in Practice project aims to promote and increase the participation of children and young people with disabilities in decision making. Since 'What Matters to Me', young people have been taking some of these issues forward: exploring them in greater depth; raising other people's awareness of them; and informing and influencing relevant decision makers and policy. To find out more, see: 'Now and in the Future' WHAT MATTERS ? What Matters to Me The first year of Citizenship in Practice focused on finding out about young people's interests and concerns. We asked: What Matters to You? Forty-six young people with a range of learning and physical disabilities from around Scotland gave us their answers. The young people were 11-19 years of age and they worked as eight separate groups. The groups took part in a variety of activities including: · voting on statements · mind maps (a visual picture or 'map' of young people's thoughts and ideas) · recording a CD rap So What matters to Young People ? Here's what they said: "School" "My family" "Having my own space" "More friends my age" "Being listened to more" "When people speak to my Mum instead of me" "My sister gets a letter and opens it herself. I get a letter and I don't get to open it." "I like to go out and I can't because there's not enough access." "Going out with my friends, going to clubs, being able to talk to my friends near and far away from my house." The What Matters to Me report gives young people's views in more detail. It talks about the methods used; how they were made accessible to young people with a wide range of abilities; and the young people's evaluation of different methods. - Download the What Matter's To Me Report PDF version (313kB) - Download the What Matter's To Me Report HTML version (for the visually impaired, courtesy of Adobe) The 'What Matters' rap is a 5 minute rap song using recordings of the young people talking about things that are important to them. - Download the What Matter's Rap (Audio file: 2.9mB) NOW & THE FUTURE Following What Matters to Me, young people have been involved in various pieces of work: The National Debate on Education in Scotland Children in Scotland and Save the Children (with funding from the Scottish Executive) worked with groups of young people, including groups from Citizenship in Practice, who otherwise might not have participated in the debate. School Daze Each group explored their thoughts and experiences and agreed on one key message. These were developed into posters and a CD rom. The groups met for an Expert Debate and exchanged thoughts and ideas during drama and art workshops and a Question Time where young people asked questions to a panel of 'decision makers' including the Minister for Education and Young People, Cathy Jamieson. Typical questions were: "Why are classes so big?" "Young people with special needs often feel that they don't get equal treatment, they don't get listened to…What can be done to train teachers and schools to include all young people?" To read the report, Reaching Young People, summarising this work, click here. Having Your Say at School During May and June 2002 Children in Scotland consulted nearly fifty young people with special educational needs. The consultation explored how much these young people were involved in decisions about their education and what methods they think work best. A report outlining young people's views was sent to the Scottish Executive and it is hoped that a shorter version will be compiled and published in the near future. EVENTS Young People's Conference Between November 2002 and March 2003 young people will be involved in projects and consultations exploring their thoughts and ideas on various aspects of inclusion. This work will culminate in a young people's conference in Spring 2003. This work is being run in conjunction with Children in Scotland and Capability Scotland's Promoting Inclusion project funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. CONTACT For further information about the Citizenship in Practice Project, please contact: Post Children in Scotland, Princes House, 5 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh. EH2 4RG Tel: 0131 228 8484 Fax: 0131 228 8585 Email: sgray@childreninscotland.org.uk |
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