Improving participatory practice with children and Young people affected by sexual violence – learning from practitioners and young people voices- Training and support to assert the voices of children

Objective To assert the importance of ‘participation’ for children and young people affected by sexual violence Through drawing upon findings from a EU funded project (Nov 2015-17). The LEAP (Life skills, leadership,... [ view full abstract ]

Objective

• To assert the importance of ‘participation’ for children and young people affected by sexual violence

Through drawing upon findings from a EU funded project (Nov 2015-17). The LEAP (Life skills, leadership, limitless potential: supporting children and young people affected by sexual violence in Europe by strengthening and facilitating participatory practice) project is delivered by four specialist services who work with young people affected by sexual violence in the UK, The Netherlands, Bulgaria and Romania. The work is co-ordinated by the University of Bedfordshire in the UK.

Method

The two main ‘products’ from the LEAP project include:

• A four-day evidence-based training programme on sexual violence (SV) for specialist support services to promote participatory practice with children and young people (CYP) affected by sexual violence. The programme is being developed into e-learning.
• A life skills, leadership, limitless potential (LLLP) toolkit for CYP affected by SV  (a detailed written manual). This toolkit supports peer leadership in participatory strategies. Young people are trained and then go on to deliver workshop sessions to other young people and develop participation projects.

 Results

Key themes emerging from interim findings:

• Managing risk for young people doing participatory work and having a voice
• Support for practitioners
• Importance of learning together, listening to young people’s voices,  being open and honest about successes and challenges

  Conclusions

The LEAP project has enabled young people to have their ‘Voice’ heard, it supports practitioners to feel confident to ‘do’ participation. One participant said – “I have learnt you have to fight for YP rights- to empower YP to take control themselves you need to be consistent, focussed , structured and open to learning yourself”.