Harnessing the Potential of Young People
Paul Hamlyn Foundation hosted a meeting of Youth Fund grantees to share experience and learn about an asset-based approach to working with young people.
What if we looked at the potential of young people rather than their needs, deficits, problems or vulnerabilities? What does an ‘asset based’ approach to working with young people look like and what is needed to support this way of working? On 23 July, PHF welcomed 34 organisations focused on supporting young people, to discuss these questions and enhance our understanding of asset based working. The event was facilitated by Colin Falconer, Director of InspireChilli, and a leading thinker in asset based approaches.
Colin says ‘Asset-based thinking has had an international impact on shaping positive models for working with young people. It includes the emergence of strengths-based practice, community asset development, appreciative inquiry, the sustainable livelihoods framework, and more recent innovations in youth homelessness under the banner of ‘advantaged thinking’. The richness of these asset approaches helps us to understand how people, organisations, communities and systems can thrive. Asset-based thinking not only offers a powerful set of tools to inspire collaborative solutions. It also challenges us to up our game in how we use language, invest resources, collect evidence, and develop policy based on understanding ‘what works’ best for young people’s futures.’
This event was the first time that organisations supported by the Youth Fund had met each other and offered attendees the opportunity to network. The organisations work all over the UK and deliver services in a variety of ways. However, they are united in their shared commitment to working with young people in an asset based way. The day also offered the opportunity for attendees to hear about the other organisations and the difference they make to the young people they work with.
The Youth Fund provides core funding to support organisations working with young people in a way that recognises and builds on their strengths and potential. Through this fund we want to promote a way of working where young people’s voices, influence and ideas are central. The Fund supports organisations whose main purpose is about helping young people (aged 14-25) in the most precarious positions, where making the transition to adult independence is most challenging. It aims to enable those with innovative and influential ideas or outstanding practice to sustain and prepare to grow their impact.
The fund is open to applications on a rolling basis.