Voice and Participation team
The Voice and Participation team is here to make sure West Sussex County Council (WSCC) listens to the views, ideas and opinions of young people. We are passionate about putting children first and ensuring that services, individuals and decision-makers have young people’s views at the heart of everything that they do.
Our mission is to take a youth-led approach to making a difference in the lives of young people in an honest, energetic, enthusiastic and creative way.
We work by supporting young people to get involved in various opportunities that enable them to communicate ideas and views about how services can be shaped to support young people in the very best way. This includes several forums, activities that bring young people together, various consultations and celebration events to recognise and share the successes of our young people.
We work with children’s services and their partners to help them develop ways to engage with young people in their departments. We believe that a part of our role is to ensure engagement is non-tokenistic, young people are involved in projects at the earliest possible stage, to challenge negative perceptions and think of less traditional, more creative ways to engage with young people.
Everything we do is underpinned by our mission, to be honest, energetic, enthusiastic and creative and we use these traits to develop ways to involve young people, hear their views, celebrate their successes and ensure all young people in West Sussex know we put them first.
Our message to young people
We understand what it feels like when you are not listened to, leaving you feeling excluded, isolated and fed-up. It can feel like nobody understands what life is like for you and you’ve got no one to talk to.
We know how important it is for people to believe in you and your aspirations and how you dislike people suggesting that you do things that don’t seem right for you. You get frustrated when you are asked to fill out survey after survey but don’t know what has been done with your views.
You tell us it’s important to have a place where your voices are heard, acted upon and you are told about the changes we have made. That’s why we are here, to provide a platform for you to speak, share ideas and know that you’re being listened to.
Asking you what you want only works when adults are willing to act on these views, and it is our job to make sure this happens.
Participation is not just about attending meetings with adults, or filling out a survey; it is about you having the power to discuss the things that are important to you in ways you want to engage with.
We have a duty to ensure all your people can share ideas, they are educated about their services, their rights and that they are supported in the right way at the right time.
We know that by listening to you, providing you with opportunities to authentically engage and have fun, we can make services the very best for all young people. It’s our job to speak on behalf of young people and provide a platform and opportunities for you to speak for yourselves.
We want every young person to be heard and know that they have somewhere to go where they will be listened to. That’s why our mission is to take a youth-led approach to making a difference in the lives of young people in an honest, energetic, enthusiastic, creative and supportive way.
Contact the Voice and Participation team
To get involved, email us: voice@westsussex.gov.uk.
More about the Voice and Participation team
Find out how we listen to your views
See our Listening to your voice page.