NCAS participation model

The NCAS participation team have created a participation model that can be implemented on a local, regional and national level.  The model addresses how and why some participation activities/models/forums fall by the wayside and be disempowering for young people.  The model focuses on sustainability, learning opportunities for young people, support from the Corporate Parents, tangible and realistic work plans and the importance of partnership between local authorities and Government Offices.

The NCAS participation model was created in April 2008 and addresses how young people’s participation can be sustainable and produce positive results.  Our work has shown us that networks/groups succeed because they empower young people, providing them with valuable learning opportunities that give them new and transferable skills - letting them take the initiative, create, organise and implement work plans which have agreed, tangible and realistic goals with the aim of benefitting young people within their service/region.  We have found that where service user involvement (SUI) initiatives fail it is primarily because of a lack of true empowerment – sharing power and influence - alongside the required level of support and encouragement necessary to sustain individual and group involvement for young people. 

Successful service user involvement  initiatives have clear and set parameters regarding what realistic objectives can be achieved, clearly defined roles for all of those involved and clear reward processes where appropriate.  We feel that real commitment and support from corporate parents is crucial – and often heavily underestimated when planning.  If any initiative is to succeed local authority partners will have to clearly understand their commitment in terms of time and resources.

Successful SUI initiatives produce results because they create achievable work plans, setting realistic and achievable targets.  They work towards completing ‘tasks’ instead of ‘causes’ which have an end result/product.  This approach raises awareness on particular issues that young people feel are important while reducing the risk of ‘drift’ with no real outcome or result.  By agreeing a work plan and taking on tasks young people are learning new skills which are ultimately transferable and beneficial to them, now, and later in life instead of addressing a cause which can potentially drift with little direction and could ultimately produce nothing but frustration in the end.

Read more about young people's regional forums and the NCAS participation model

West Midlands participation forum activities - Meet the coordinators and stocktake event