The theory: participation
Youth work, particularly in the Christian world, has historically been for education and pastoral support. But as youth work has become more established in churches it has become more important for young people to participate in the structures and services surrounding them. As adults, we are often the gatekeepers for the participation of young people. We have the power to allow young people to participate or at least advocate for their participation to others.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) aims to ensure that every child and young person can fulfil their potential, with an emphasis on freedom, respect, nondiscrimination and human dignity. In article 12 it states, ‘Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.’
It is clear that young people should have the right to fully participate in matters and services that will affect their lives. As youth work projects and churches we should lead the way on participation and inclusivity for young people.
Harts Ladder of Participation
In 1997, Roger Hart, a sociologist for UNICEF, developed what he termed the Ladder of Participation. Using this tool we can examine how young people and adults interact in differing levels of participation.
Hart’s Ladder of participation shows in stages how young people can greater influence the structures around them, as long as adults surrounding them choose to allow it. It should be noted that the bottom three rungs of the ladder are not examples of youth participation, rather these rungs represent adult-directed activities that use young people for the adults’ agenda.
Examining the top two rungs of the ladder, there are arguments over which should be highest: shared decision-making benefits both adults and young people. In this equal partnership both groups may grow to a new understanding about themselves and others. However, others believe that young people are most empowered when they are making decisions without the influence of adults, and reduce their role to that of support. Ultimately, it is up to the group of young people to decide which form of decision-making best fits their needs.
God calls us into participation with him: from Adam naming the animals through to Jesus calling the disciples. God, even though he knows that he can do anything and everything, reaches out and calls us to participate with him in the building of his kingdom. In fact Jesus likens his Church to a body with each part having a different and unique role to play. Jesus’ radical trust and acceptance of all extends to handing the kingdom of God to children (Luke 18:16).
So if God is willing to risk the establishing of his kingdom on us, what would we take from his example? Perhaps we could sacrifice our projects looking good and shiny in favour of risking giving more opportunities for young people to participate. We could allow the young people we work with to shape our projects, ourselves and even our understanding of God. There is a risk; we may give young people the opportunity and responsibility to participate, and they may fail. Yet throughout Christian history ‘failures’ have been used to bring about God’s kingdom.
Young people-initiated, shared decisions with adults
Young people have the ideas, set up the project and then invite adults to join with them in making decisions. Young people and adults are equal partners in the project.
Example: Young people decide to run a worship event. They begin to plan the event themselves and invite youth leaders across the area to join in with their plans.
Young people-initiated and directed
Young people have the initial idea and decide how the project is to be carried out. Adults are available when needed and trust that the young people can lead the project.
Example: A group of young people decide to run a bake sale for charity. The young people plan and run the bake sale and the youth worker provides support and resources when asked.
Adult-initiated, shared decisions with young people
Adults have the initial idea for the piece of work and get young people involved in making decisions, planning and implementing the project.
Example: Adults decide to take a group away for a residential. Young people are given a budget and together with leaders they work to plan meals and activities.
Consulted and informed A project is designed and run by adults who consult with young people. Adults allow young people to make recommendations that are considered, and feedback is given on their opinions.
Example: Adults decide to take a group for a weekend residential. Young people tell the leaders what they would like to do and adults give feedback to the young people about how their opinions have affected decision-making.
Assigned but informed Adults decide on a project, young people do not initiate but volunteer to take part. Young people understand the project and have some sense of ownership.
Example: Youth workers decide to put on a nativity play and assign the young people roles within the play.
Tokenism Young people appear to be given a voice, but in fact have little or no choice about what they do or how they participate.
Example: A young person is asked to be on an interview panel to represent the ‘youth’, yet has no opportunity to consult with their peers or understand the role.
Decoration Young people are used to help or ‘bolster’ a cause in a relatively indirect way. Young people have no role in decision-making.
Example: Young people are given a script to act out about ‘youth problems.’ The script is written by adults and performed to adults attending a youth conference.
Manipulation This happens when adults use young people to support causes and pretend that the causes are inspired by young people. Adults use young people’s ideas and voices for their own gain.
Example: Adults use young people’s drawing in a publication aimed at adults without consulting the young people themselves.
The experiment
Dan Crouch is youth worker in the parish of Keynsham
Youth councils and forums are often viewed as key ways for youth workers to seek to enable young people to express their views. I was recently involved in an attempt to establish a diocesan youth council. A desire for this emerged as a result of a consultation exercise concerning the appointment of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. However, the development of a youth council was an adult-driven agenda, and success has been limited and stunted.
At an early youth council meeting we asked the young people to arrange the chairs in a circle ready for our meeting. What they did was to arrange the seats in a circle as I had asked, however, all the seats were pointing out instead of towards the centre. We needed seats in a circle for our meeting but young people were able to interpret this in their own way. Their actions caused me to reflect on how often I ask young people to conform to my existing agenda. It seems that in many youth work practices I am prepared to allow the young people to contribute, as long as the process is recognisable to us.
When the time came for the meeting to begin we suggested the young people might like to rearrange the seats to a formation that we would usually find for a meeting room. I had asked them to participate and yet rather than valuing their contribution, I asked them to conform to my understanding of what is right. Could we have left the seats in their arrangement for the meeting so that the young people could learn for themselves the challenges of meeting in such a setup? Perhaps the meeting might have been better without eye contact; the young people may have been able the express themselves more honestly without others staring at them. What might we have learnt? Would the adult perspective have been supported or challenged?
Most examples of formalised participation that I have observed are based on an ‘adult’ model, such as a youth council. Perhaps in a youth-led and created model we would have found more young people interested in participating. There is a tangible difference between participation and attendance.
This revelation is transforming our approach for the future of the youth council. We are going to invite young people to come together for an initial meeting and identify issues that they face as young members of the church. We are then going to ask them to decide for themselves how they might take things forward, if they even want to take them forward at all.
Experiment yourself:
Take the time to reflect on your own church or youth project, and examine the different ways in which young people are allowed to participate. Then try drawing up the Ladder of Participation on to a roll of paper with young people-friendly descriptions of each stage. Ask them to be honest and stand next to the rung of the ladder which they think they are allowed to participate at. Together you may want to reflect and work on what you might do as a group to increase the participation and active involvement in your church or youth project.
You may want to think through what the obstacles are that prevent young people participating in the life of the church or the activities and running of the youth project. Ask who sets the agenda for the participation at your church or youth project. Do young people often preach at your church? Are children included in decisions about their groups? A difficult question to ask ourselves and of God is: what part of our understood faith is a barrier for young people participating in the church? What part of the way I understand my faith needs to die so that more of God’s love is known?
