Issue 26 - November 2007 (PDF, 1.69Mb) - ESRC

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18 F E ATURE ISSUE 26 | AUTUMN 2007 Rights encourage responsibility By Fiona Blacke There is an argument that says if you have limited rights, then perhaps you have limited responsibilities. Young people, in that transitional space between childhood and adult rights and responsibilities, are in this country generally afforded most of the rights laid out and agreed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. But it would not be an unfair observation that having their voices heard and listened to, when adults are making decisions that affect them, is a right enjoyed only haphazardly by most young people. Yet there is a real missed trick here, because it actually is when young people are engaged as full and active participants that their contribution is greatest, and it is their active participation in their youth that is most likely to secure their active participation in later life. We know the best volunteering programmes do not only engage young people’s time and effort, but engage them in shaping the nature of their intervention from design through to evaluation. We know that when young people are given real control of resources, through initiatives such as Youth Bank and Youth Opportunity Funds, that they exercise responsibility with seriousness and rigour. We know also that young people engaged in democratic structures established to secure their contribution in meaningful ways – be it good student councils, youth boards or as local or national youth parliamentarians – they generally approach the task with a passion and commitment that easily matches and often exceeds their adult counterparts. So the answer to the question “How do My recipe for success By Fraser Doherty Istarted selling homemade jam, made using my Grandmother’s recipes, to the neighbours at the age of 14. Little did I know that this simple enterprise, which I had created to provide me with some extra pocket money, would blossom into my full- time career and take me on a four- y e a r journey of self development. For me, setting up my own business – being an entrepreneur – has been my contribution to s o c i e t y. In fact, I would say that the hundreds of thousands of people in my age group who are being ‘enterprising’, whether in business, the voluntary sector or the arts, make a huge contribution to society every day. On top of providing worthwhile services and stimulating economic activity in their communities, enterprising young people are When young people are engaged as full and active participants their contribution is greatest we ensure young people play an active part in society?” is not complex, although it is one that requires a consistent and systematic change in adult processes and behaviours. We need to embed young peoples’ right to be heard and listened to in all matters that affect them into the fabric of the way we deliver services and programmes. The Government has started to address this, and the new ten-year strategy for positive activities goes a long way to making explicit the expectations on local government youth services. However, every organisation delivering services to or for young people needs to critically examine itself and embed youth voice into its standard procedures. Rights and responsibilities are inextricably linked. Give young people the right to shape and influence, and they will play an effective role in society Fiona Blacke is Chief Executive of the National Youth Agency (NYA).
developing themselves for the future. This is the most important contribution that young people can make to society – to equip themselves effectively for adulthood. By starting a business or volunteering their time to charitable work, young people can develop skills that will prove invaluable in the world of work. By no means am I suggesting that everyone can become an entrepreneur. I do, h o w e v e r, feel that everyone can be more ‘enterprising’. Encouraging young people to try new things, take risks and develop their skills is the best way to empower them to make a contribution to society. This means Children are, of course, ‘citizens’ in the sense that they have rights and entitlements within the state. But many are engaged with civic, social and moral issues long before they are able to vote. This civic concern merits attention from two perspectives. To what extent is such activity political enculturation? But also, should we not take seriously the fact that young people act as responsible citizens without exercising the supposedly primary ‘civic action’ of voting? There is much current hand wringing about young people’s reluctance to vote and providing advice and support for young people to help them come up with ideas and become involved in projects outside the c l a s s r o o m . Providing young people with effective role models and case studies is the simplest way to demonstrate how they can empower themselves to contribute to the wider world. Showing them what other young people have done, such as setting up a company, inventing a new product or participating in charity work, provides evidence that they are capable of doing something similar. This will surely instil a sense of self-belief and an attitude that they are responsible for Apathy does not rule Many make their voices heard through signing petitions, boycotting unacceptable products, or taking part in peaceful demonstrations lack of interest in elections, although the data do show that young people expect to vote in the longer term, as adult citizens. I would argue that this narrow definition of civic action gives a misleading picture of young people’s citizenship. Many make their voices heard through signing petitions, boycotting unacceptable products, or taking part in peaceful demonstrations. Many more expect to do so in the future. Many participate in helping their community. These activities were not traditionally thought of as ‘political’, but increasing appreciation of the importance of informal political action in social change, and of the role of community in social capital, has forefronted both. It is of note also that both demand more individual effort, time, and initiative than does voting. In a recent UK study of 1,136 young people aged 11-21, three-quarters reported taking part in at least one civic action in the ESRC THE EDGE | F E AT U R E 19 developing themselves and creating opportunities for later life. U n d o u b t e d l y, many will try to achieve similar successes themselves by challenging themselves to come up with an idea. This begins the process of developing a ‘culture of enterprise’, in which young people are enthused by the creative process of developing something independently. In fact, youth is the perfect time to try out ideas – without the worries of mortgage repayments or families to provide for Fraser Doherty is a young entrepreneur and creator of SuperJam products. By Helen Haste last two years. Nearly half had taken part in a sponsored event, more than a third had signed a petition and nearly a quarter had boycotted a product. Taking part increased their confidence, changed their beliefs, and made them want to do more of the same in future; action clearly promotes civic motivation and enculturation. Many expect, as adults, to vote, protest, lobby and work to help their community. They see ‘the good citizen’ as protecting the environment, and helping the community, as well as voting. How much do young people care about social issues? More than three-quarters would like to influence the Government about health care, facilities for young people, crime, racism, and drugs. More than half felt strongly about pollution, immigration, the environment, opportunities for women, the influence of the USA and the EU on British politics, and how scientific developments affect our lives. We should not underestimate the civic interest of our children, but we should take note also of the disaffected 25 per cent Helen Haste is Professor of Psychology at the University of Bath, specialising in adolescence, citizenship, morality, creativity and gender issues.
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Issue 26 - November 2007 (PDF, 1.69Mb) - ESRC

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