TURNING POINTS
An international project by the National Youth Agency involving 15 countries and exploring international youth work policy across Europe (August 2022)
About this project
The project ‘Turning Points: towards a consistent voice for youth’ was organised by the NYA with support from the Centre for International Learning and Leadership and Momentum World, with co-funding from the Erasmus+ programme (Key Action 3). The project brought together young people from across the UK and Europe to share experience and discuss the principles and practice of youth involvement in policy and decision making at all levels.
During the project, participants also prepared and led a conference for young people, youth workers and policy-makers, exploring how the voice of young people could be mainstreamed in policy development. The conference resulted in recommendations which the young people then developed into youth advocacy proposals for follow-up action in their home countries. The residential project and conference were hosted and supported by Derby University.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE 1:
To compare information and experience about youth policy across different European countries.
OBJECTIVE 2:
To facilitate increased dialogue between young people and policy makers.
OBJECTIVE 3:
To encourage youth-led action in the participating countries.
THEMES
The 3 themes of this project are derived from the European Youth Strategy
engage
How should we encourage and promote inclusive participation of all young people in society and democratic processes? The project aimed to promote engagement of young people in policies affecting their lives and inclusion in decision-making processes on all levels?
connect
How can we enable access for all young people to cross-border mobility opportunities, by eliminating obstacles and implementing support measures with special attention to young people with fewer opportunities? The project aimed to encourage young people’s solidarity.
empower
How can young people be encouraged to take charge of their own lives through policy dialogue? The project aimed to promote quality youth work on all levels, including policy development,, and to promote social inclusion through non-formal education activities.
THE NATIONAL YOUTH AGENCY
National Youth Agency is the national body for youth work, and the Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) for youth work in England. They have been transforming the lives of young people through youth work for over 50 years. By championing, professionalising, and enabling youth work, they strive to find better, more inventive ways to empower more young people. – for more information CLICK HERE
In February 2020 the National Youth Agency organised a project called Youth Work in a Changing World. This was the origin of the Turning Points idea.
images from the event
Event speakers
Two of the guest speakers at the conference
Jamie Bykov-Brett
Jamie Bykov-Brett is a Social Entrepreneur, Workshop Facilitator, Metaverse Advisor and Digital Economic Justice Campaigner. Jamie’s passion is designing, developing and delivering meaningful interventions that also have a social impact. His greatest strength comes from his ability to move between diverse spheres or fields and disciplines and look for fundamental connections between them in order to gain a unique perspective,
Nizam Uddin
Nizam is Chief Strategy Officer of Algbra, a technology-based financial ecosystem dedicated to global financial inclusion by focusing on the underserved and underbanked. Nizam was previously the Senior Head of Mosaic and Community Integration at The Prince’s Trust, where he oversaw the organisation’s community cohesion and social integration activities and led Mosaic, an independent Initiative founded by HRH The Prince of Wales to uplift diverse communities across the UK’s highest areas of deprivation.
Postcards
Meet some of the participants from 15 countries involved in this event
FIND OUT ABOUT THE COUNTRIES INVOLVED
On this project we had 16 countries … find out more
The Conference
On 12th August 2022 (UNESCO International Youth Day), young people from across Europe led an event for their peers, youth workers and policy-makers to explore and express ideas about present and future participation and representation. With speakers and guests from the fields of business, technology, education and youth work, as well as representation from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the NYA itself, a wide range of lively debate took place around all our project themes, leaving the international participants with the challenge of taking forward a set of recommendations at local level on their return home.
Podcasts
Podcast text
Podcast 1
Podcast 2
I COME FROM…
Prior to the project, participants were asked to record a short video or sound clip expressing their identity and values. Listen below to a compilation of their thoughts.
We Come From…
During the project, participants worked in multicultural teams to record short videos about the values and future aspirations that they share. Here are three examples of what they produced.
Get Involved!
Would you like to do a similar project like this with Momentum World? We have a strong track record in delivering high quality international education programmes, training and events. Speak to us now for more information.
Contact Us
Telephone
+44 (0) 20 7062 8926
Address
Momentum World
15 Prescott Place
London
SW4 6BS