My 30 minute reading challenge is paying off. 30 minutes a day reading ‘Youth and Positive Uncertainty by Vicky Johnson and Andy West with a whole crowd of others. The book kicks off with ‘Why listen to marginalised youth?’ and then describes a project in which people tried to do that well. I am just embarking on a project with looked after young people to understand their experiences and feelings about moving towards independent living…and aiming to co-create some recommendations for organisations and local authorities to improve the support and guidance offered. Here are some top quotes that have got me thinking about how we do our project well:

the importance of understanding young people’s perceptions of risk and their creative strategies in the face of uncertainty

Their feelings about themselves and their relationships with others…in their fragile and fast changing political and environmental contexts

a youth-centred approach…A rights-based approach…An emancipatory approach

I’m left asking myself, how do we really hear youth voice? How do we really centre young people’s experiences? How do create the space, opportunity and safety for them to want and be able to speak? Who will listen to them? What will change? How do we manage expectations?

These are the questions and issues we will open up with the young people and what we aim to do is listen well. To ask questions. To show our interest and our humility.

So, that was my first 3 days of 30 minute reading. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.