The London Youth Involvement Project

Transcription

1 The London Youth Involvement Project Project Forms

2 This pack contains information about the London Youth Involvement Project and forms for Youth Advisors and their parents/carers to complete. Contents Project Information for Youth Advisors p. 3 Youth Advisor Personal Information p. 4 Confidentiality Agreement p. 6 Image and Written Information Consent (Youth Advisor) p. 8 Parent/Carer Information and Consent p. 9 Image and Written Information Consent (Parent/Carer) p

3 Project Information for Youth Advisors Welcome to the London Youth Involvement Project. This information pack will tell you what it s all about and how you can be involved. What is Mentor UK? Mentor UK is a national charity which works to support young people to make positive choices around drugs and alcohol. It believes that preventing drug and alcohol abuse among young people helps to ensure that they fulfil their potential, stay safe and keep healthy. It runs projects working with young people and their carers across the country, advises the government and works hard to ensure that young people s views are heard. What is the London Youth Involvement Project? The London Youth Involvement Project is a really exciting scheme which will ensure that young people living in the capital have their thoughts on drug and alcohol prevention heard by politicians, professionals and other decision-makers. It has grown out of a belief that young people themselves must be listened to if drug and alcohol prevention is to be effective. The project gives young people the opportunity to volunteer as Youth Advisors in order to share their ideas about what influences young people s decisions around drugs and alcohol and what is effective in preventing young people from abusing drugs and alcohol. The Youth Advisors will be supported to develop their ideas and views, to carry out research and to present their findings to key decision makers at consultation events. They will also have the opportunity to gain accreditation for the work they do. Who can become a Youth Advisor? Any young person aged between 12 and 18 and living in London can become a Youth Advisor. You will need to be enthusiastic, committed to the project and willing to travel to central London at certain times throughout the project. There will be around 20 Youth Advisors working on the London Youth Involvement Project. The project will last for 2 years. Youth Advisors can be involved for the whole two years, but may be involved for one year only if they prefer. Finally, you will need permission from your parent(s) or carer(s) to take part. 3

4 Youth Advisor Personal Information Name Date of Birth Address Postcode Telephone Gender Ethnicity Male Female Do you have any physical or mental health needs you will need or would like support with? Yes No If yes, what support will you require? (Please continue on the back of the sheet if needed) 4

5 Parent/carer details Name Address Postcode Telephone Signed Printed Name Date 5

6 Confidentiality Agreement This document tells you what information Mentor UK will keep about you, why it keeps it, and who the information will be shared with. It then asks for your consent to keep and share your information. What information does Mentor UK keep about me? Mentor UK keeps two types of information about the young people it works with: Personal information (for example, your name, your date of birth, your address and telephone number and your age) Sensitive information (for example, your gender, ethnicity, any particular needs you might have, organisations or professionals who are supporting you, details of extra support we might need to provide for you). Sensitive information also includes details of your work for the project you are involved in. Usually this information will come from young people themselves, although we will sometimes receive information from parents, carers or professionals. Why does Mentor UK keep information on the young people it works with? The main reasons for keeping information are: To be able to identify you and to keep in touch with you To make sure we can provide the best support possible to you To make sure you and the young people you work with are kept safe To keep track of how you are getting along on the project Where does Mentor UK keep your information? Information is kept on the computer and in paper files. The paper files are locked away securely, and the computer system requires a password to access. Who does Mentor UK share your information with? Mentor UK staff: only those members of staff who need to know your information will be given access to it. For example, the office manager will keep your name on a database so that you can be contacted if the project officer is unavailable to contact you. Any staff who help with the delivery of the project will also have access to your details. Only the information which is necessary for staff to know in order to do their job will be shared. 6

7 People external to Mentor UK: there may be times when Mentor needs to share details about you with people who do not work for the charity. Only the information needed for them to carry out their work will be shared. Examples are: People providing extra training People attending events which may show your work Professionals who work with you (for example, teachers, social workers, youth workers) Giving consent At the end of the document, you will be asked to sign your consent for Mentor UK to hold your information and to share your information if necessary. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Not giving consent We will not share your information if you do not give your consent. In some circumstances, this may mean that we will not be able to work with you. Exceptional circumstances In exceptional circumstances, Mentor UK is legally required to share information even if you do not give your consent. These circumstances are: If you are at risk of significant harm If another person is at risk of significant harm If you disclose information which leads Mentor UK to believe a crime might be committed If a court asks us to disclose information If the police ask us to disclose information Signing your consent Please tick the following boxes to show your consent I understand why Mentor UK hold my information and who it may be shared with: I understand the circumstances when Mentor UK cannot keep my information confidential: I consent to Mentor UK holding my information and sharing it with other organisations if necessary: Signed: Print name: Date: 7

8 What is meant by image? Image and written information consent form (Youth Advisor) Images can be still (photographs) or moving (film). Mentor UK often uses photographs and film to show the work that is being done by young people. Images may be seen in the following places: On Mentor UK s website At events which showcase or celebrate the work of Mentor UK At events which form part of the work carried out by young people (for example conferences) In promotional materials (for example leaflets and banners) What is meant by written information? Written information details the work that you have done in writing. It might include: Case studies which illustrate what an individual has achieved Quotes which reflect what the project has meant to an individual Recognition of the work an individual has done (for example, including your name in research results and reports) Images and written information will be accessible to people and organisations outside of Mentor UK (for example, people who look at our website will be able to access films on there) I agree for Mentor UK to keep still images of me which can be used by the charity I agree for Mentor UK to keep moving images of me to be used by the charity I agree for Mentor UK to keep written information about me to be used by the charity which includes my full name I agree for Mentor UK to keep written information about me to be used by the charity which includes my first name only I agree for Mentor UK to keep written information about me to be used by the charity which makes sure my name is kept anonymous Signed Date Print Name 8

9 Parent/Carer Information and Consent What is the London Youth Involvement Project? The London Youth Involvement Project (LYIP) is a project being run by the national drug prevention charity, Mentor UK. It brings young people from across London together to discuss why they think young people become involved in drug and alcohol abuse, and what they think are the most effective ways of preventing young people from doing so. These young people will be known as Youth Advisors and their views will be heard by policy makers, service commissioners and professionals from across the city. The aim is for their views to be taken into account by key decision makers. Youth Advisors will not only put their views across, but will also gather the views of other young Londoners and present these as well. What will young people get out of the project? The Youth Advisors will learn a number of valuable skills while they are involved. These will include research skills, presentation skills, event hosting skills and the skills required to host discussion forums and other meetings. They will have the opportunity to gain accreditation for their work. They will learn how democracy works and how they can be involved in helping to make changes to their society. There will also be opportunities for fun! Not only will young people have the chance to meet other young people from across the city, but they will also get to take part in fun activities as thanks for the work they do. What level of commitment is required? Youth Advisors will attend training and development sessions with other members of the LYIP. They will also host discussion groups with other young people from across London to hear their views and carry out surveys. Their work will culminate in them presenting their findings and recommendations to key decision makers from across the capital. All meetings and events will be held outside of school hours, either at weekends or over the school holidays. Young people may be involved for the duration of the project (until May 2013) but may choose to be involved for a shorter period of time if they prefer. 9

10 Travel All training/development sessions and events involving the all the Youth Advisors will be held in central London, with venues to be confirmed. Most often, this will be at the Mentor Offices, 1 st Floor, Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6PU. Mentor UK is unable to provide staff to accompany young people when they travel to and from these sessions or events. Mentor UK will provide staff to accompany young people to any sessions outside London, for example, residential weekends. All travel costs will be reimbursed on presentation of a receipt. Physical and Mental Health needs In order to ensure that all Youth Advisors are kept safe and are able to fully access all opportunities, it is important that Mentor UK is made aware of any physical or mental health needs which require additional support. Please inform the project officer of any additional support required. Mentor UK s Child Protection Policy All staff working with young people on his project will hold an up to date enhanced CRB check. Our child protection policy is available on request. If you have any concerns regarding child protection issues arising from the project, please contact Andrew Brown, Director of Programmes for Mentor UK on Further consent Mentor UK will request further consent for specific activities as necessary. Please see separate sheet for image/written information consent form. Contacting the London Youth involvement Project Project Officer Name: Nicola Strivens Address: 1 st Floor, Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6PU Nicola.strivens@mentoruk.org Telephone: /

11 Name of my child/the child I care for: I confirm that my child/the child I care for may take part in the London Youth Involvement Project as a Youth Advisor My child/the child I care for has additional needs Yes No I confirm that I will provide up to date contact details to the project officer Signed: Printed name: Relationship to Youth Advisor: Date: Address Telephone number address Additional contact in case of emergency Name Relationship to Youth Advisor Telephone Number Please return to Nicola Strivens, Project Officer for the London Youth Involvement Project, in the envelope provided. 11

12 What is meant by image? Image and written information parental/carer consent form Images can be still (photographs) or moving (film). Mentor UK often uses photographs and film to show the work that is being done by young people. Images may be seen in the following places: On Mentor UK s website At events which showcase or celebrate the work of Mentor UK At events which form part of the work carried out by young people (for example conferences) In promotional materials (for example leaflets and banners) What is meant by written information? Written information details the work that young people have done in writing. It might include: Case studies which illustrate what an individual has achieved Quotes which reflect what the project has meant to an individual Recognition of the work an individual has done (for example, including a young person s name in research results and reports) Images and written information will be accessible to people and organisations outside of Mentor UK (for example, people who look at our website will be able to access films on there) I agree for Mentor UK to keep still images of my child/the child I care for which can be used by the charity I agree for Mentor UK to keep moving images of my child/the child I care for to be used by the charity I agree for Mentor UK to keep written information about my child/the child I care for to be used by the charity which includes my full name I agree for Mentor UK to keep written information about my child/the child I care for to be used by the charity which includes my first name only I agree for Mentor UK to keep written information about my child/the child I care for to be used by the charity which makes sure my name is kept anonymous Signed Date Print Name 12