Before being able to think about the pros and cons of young people taking more of a say in decision making and leading their own organisation to improve services and outcomes, the group needed to explore first what their priority needs were in Lambeth as these would presumably be key areas to focus on within any new emerging organisation.
This was a large group activity to explore the things that matter to young people in the Borough. The whole group added traffic light post-its to large graffiti posters about aspects of their lives: being healthy, staying safe, having the things I need, enjoying and achieving, sex and relationships and helping others. Green indicated good, orange was for ok and red (pink) was for rubbish - poor.
While there are many areas of green that represent things going well, areas of red and orange were notable on having a say, safety at home and the neighbourhood and on gaining access to information on sex and relationships.
A team of roving reporters working with DigitalMe also asked some of those taking part what their priorities for change were for young people in Lambeth.
· “That young people in Lambeth have the voice that they need.” (Treasure Oyelade, Lambeth Youth Council)
· “More opportunities for young people and advertising these opportunities more.” (Keanna Williams, Lambeth Member of UK Youth Parliament)
· “A range of things for young people. There’s not one thing that could be fixed in the lives of young people in Lambeth. There are so many things.” (Jeremiah Emmanuel, Deputy Youth Mayor)