Youth Participation

Helping young people influence the decisions that matter

We work with voluntary and statutory organisations across the UK that want young people to have a more meaningful say in their own lives, in communities and in wider decision-making.

If your organisation is like most organisations working with young people, you're facing considerable pressure to show that they contribute to the planning and delivery of your programmes. Helping young people who are struggling with multiple issues in their lives to play this role is extremely challenging, even for the most experienced youth workers.

We start where young people are at and train them or facilitate young people's groups directly. We also know that strong youth participation relies on youth workers being skilled enough to deliver, so we train and facilitate youth workers.

Our programmes are not about helping young people give feedback on decisions. Instead, we help young people influence how important decisions are made.

Through our tailored support and encouragement young people learn to believe that they do have an equal contribution to make, and youth organisations can point to increased, diverse and meaningful user involvement.

After you've worked with us, your young people will feel more confident in their ability to have their say and responsibility for youth participation will be more equally shared within your organisation. Even if we work with you for only one day.

We believe that encouraging disadvantaged young people to influence decision-making means:

ICA has been working with young people across the world for forty years to help them develop the confidence and skills to influence decision-making. Building on this experience, ICA:UK launched its Youth Participation Programme in 2005, following a successful nine-month pilot project. Since launching the programme, we've offered direct support to over 1000 young people and youth workers from voluntary and statutory organisations across the UK.

Please browse this website for detailed information on how the young people you work with can influence decision-making more effectively.