Building children and young people’s participation to help make where they live a better place

The National Youth Agency, in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Local Government Association, launches a new Hear by Right resource to build children and young people’s participation in shaping housing and community services.

The tried and tested Hear by Right participation standards framework is a robust and flexible tool enabling organisations to map current levels and plan priorities for improving participation policy and practice. It is used widely across local authorities and organisations in the public, private and community and voluntary sectors.

The Hear by Right in housing and communities briefing shows how Hear by Right can help ensure legal compliance and best practice on the participation of children and young people. It is primarily for Board members, strategic and operational leads for resident participation across housing provision, including Housing Associations, Registered Social Landlords and local authority housing. It draws on successful examples of using Hear by Right to make participation safe, sound and sustainable. It sets out requirements and best practice, drawing upon the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Tenant Services Authority, the Audit Commission and government policy. It draws on the experience and expertise of housing providers to put the case for the active involvement of young residents and tenants to help make where they live a better place.

The briefing, launched at the Chartered Institute of Housing Annual Conference in Harrogate in June 2009 is available from The NYA or as a download at www.nya.org.uk/hearbyright.

Hear by Right is available from The NYA priced £10. Contact NYA Sales on 0116 242 7427; sales@nya.org.uk.

For further information, best practice examples and support in using Hear by Right contact the Participation Programme at participation@nya.org.uk, 01162427406. A wide range of examples, resources and case studies are available at www.nya.org.uk/hearbyright.