On 13 March at Watford Young People’s Centre, young people from Watford Youth Council and the Neglect Matters Partnership Project presented the toolkit they developed to support the launch of the NSPCC and Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership ‘Neglect Matters’ campaign.
Throughout the spring term the young people worked with HCC Services for Young People (SfYP) Youth Workers and NSPCC staff to design and develop the ‘Chain for Change’ online leaflet, a toolkit to raise young people's awareness of child and young person neglect.
Members of the Watford Youth Council said:
"I have really enjoyed being able to take charge of a project and make it our own."
"It is great having our voices heard by adults and making a difference."
The evening event enabled the young people to present the results of their work to key figures from SfYP, the NSPCC, Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership and Watford Borough Council.
Emma (NSPCC), William (SfYP Senior Youth Worker) and Keith (SfYP Youth Support Worker), receiving their certificate for their contribution to the project
The young people planned and ran the evening; explaining the toolkit via a presentation, speeches, acting out scenarios and performing a song they had written to promote the campaign.
The young people came up with the slogan 'Chain for Change' and designed a logo which was produced professionally from their idea. These will be used on marketing materials such as badges, stickers, T-shirts and pens. A business card with a QR code linking to the Chain for Change online leaflet will also be produced. The six-page leaflet they created provides information about what child and young person neglect is and how it can be spotted, the importance of talking about neglect, and where to go for help or to report neglect.
View the Chain for Change online leaflet by clicking on this image:
Emma-Louise Copperwheat, NSPCC East of England Campaigns Officer said:
"Thank you for all the support from SfYP Youth Workers and specifically the young people for making this campaign a success."
Kips Green, Services for Young People Area Team Manager said:
"Congratulations on a successful event. A big thank you to the young people for all your hard work in making the campaign and toolkit such a success."
Services for Young People supports young people in having their voices heard
Services for Young People Watford Youth Council
