Get Connected : Teachers and youth workers : Join the YPIM

"Jodie had been sleeping on the streets for three months when she called us. We found her a bed for the night and a housing advice centre for the next day." Steve, Get Connected volunteer Helpline Worker

Join the YPIM

The Young People in Management programme was developed by Get Connected in 2002 in order to get young people involved in the management of the organisation. It's a chance for those too young to be trustees - under 18 - to have their say in how the service develops, how it's promoted and how the organisation operates. As a user-led service, we consider young people's input essential to the running of the organisation, and try to involve them wherever possible.

The programme comprises two elements, the Youth Committee and the Youth AGM. It's structure was devised in consultation with young people across the UK to ensure it satisfied their needs.

The Youth Committee

This is a group of approximately 14 young people from schools in London, who meet several times a year in parallel with our Executive Committee. Facilitated by a Youth Participation Worker, these sessions involve young people in discussions, workshops and groupwork. We aim to gather their opinions on issues such as:

The characteristics of a high quality helpline for young people
Which channels the service should be provided through
What Get Connected's priorities should be for the next year / three years
What messages Get Connected should use to promote the helpline
How effective they feel their meetings are and how they can improve

We encourage Youth Committee members to co-operate with each other supportively and constructively.

The Youth AGM

The Youth AGM is organised in a different city each year, giving young people from as many areas of the UK as possible the chance to advise Get Connected on our development. Drawn from local youth services or associations, about 25 young people spend the day in interactive sessions including:

A review of Get Connected's main website
Planning an imaginary event to promote Get Connected
Debating the pros and cons of media Get Connected is considering using to provide the helpline

There's always a treat at the end of the day, where Get Connected takes the group to an attraction or activity we think they'll enjoy.

Would the young people you work with enjoy participating?

If you work with young people in London, and can spare some of them for an afternoon every couple of months, why not tell them about the Youth Committee?

Wherever you're based in the UK, we'd be delighted to welcome the young people you work with at a Youth AGM. Travel expenses are reimbursed and refreshments are provided, so all you need is time and some young people with energy and ideas.