Stakeholder engagement and young people
The significance and mutual benefits of engagement is underscored in RIBA's recently published Engagement Overlay. "Local stakeholders possess expertise, first-hand knowledge, and insights into their locality, enhancing engagement, long-term project ownership, and more resilient neighbourhoods. When carried out successfully engagement helps create a sense of inclusion and leaves participants feeling they’ve added value, as well as supports more desirable, effective, and efficient project outcomes.’" (Engagement Overlay, RIBA, 2024).
This principle is equally applicable when targeting youth during community consultation stages. This section outlines specific toolkit examples and The RIBA’s Engagement Overlay providing guidance on engagement through each RIBA Plan of Work stage which can be adapted for children and youth engagement.
Why engage with children and young people?
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Introduce new possibilities
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Connecting with the community
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Staff Wellbeing and Career Satisfaction
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Be a leading force in the industry
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Social value benefit
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Develop essential skills in CYP
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As landscape architects looking to enrich the lives of people that use public space and create new communities that leave a lasting legacy, the work Cement Fields have undertaken with an age group that has often been neglected in public space has been invaluable. Tapping into minds and encouraging young adults to express their views and aspirations for their community through various creative measures has given us a really clear steer on how to shape future spaces they can feel part of and responsible for.
Define, Landscape Architects, This Must Be Place, Cement Fields
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We have found the process of engaging with the young people and TAG at the existing youth centre in Ham extremely rewarding. Not only have the young people gained new skills with regards to informing the built environment, but we have also learnt a valuable amount from them and been able to learn what engagement tools are more successful than others at working with young people.
Sean Westion, Founder WR-AP
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First steps…
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A few examples/toolkits and external links - see below
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Urban Symbiotics
Urban Symbiotics led a team that included Fabrik, Quota heritage and worked with the poet Lewis Buxtonwere to prepare a Masterplan for Swaffham, part of a High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ). They responded by designing various engagement methods from interactive activities, playful events, surveys, targeted focus groups and more comprehensive workshops to cover all genders, age ranges, literacy and abilities.
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Docklands Youth & Community Centre for Full Circle @ Docklands
Research focused on how to best prepare a co-design process that appealed to the variety of users involved. Most importantly we wanted to empower the youngest / quietest people to feel confdent enough to share their thoughts and ideas. We therefore looked primarily at participatory teaching methods and tried to understand how students learn.
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ZCD
ZCD work with 100s of young people: an architectural practice of 8, who in the last four years have grown their work with young people so that it now accounts for more than 50% of what they do. In this time, they have undertaken over 100 hands-on workshops with over 650 young people, where they have genuinely had an opportunity to input into and have an impact on projects
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Voice Opportunity Power
A free resource with practical guidance on how to involve young people in building managing places. It is for professionals: developers, designers, planners and sports providers. It is designed to improve participation in and the quality of, new development and regeneration.
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YEP! Youth Engagement Planning
YEP! is a non-profit organisation focused on educating young people about urban planning and civic engagement. Their Best Practices publication addresses how to initiate Youth Engagement along with several sample activities.
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RIBA Engagement Overlay
RIBA supported by the Association of Collaborative Design, Sustrans, and the Landscape Institute, have developed an Engagement Overlay to provide guidance on engagement through each RIBA Plan of Work stage to promote best practice and ensure the most successful and collaborative outcomes.
Considerations when engaging with CYP
Conduct DBS checks to safeguard the safety and well-being of children and young people, while also communicating with parents about the process.
Marketing and Promotion: Utilise your network for outreach and advertise events through local borough contacts, third-party networks, and newsletters.
Adaptability: Recognise the diversity among young people and adapt initiatives accordingly. Be innovative and open to creating new approaches. Be willing to adjust based on feedback and responses.
Tailor Your Approach: Customise your engagement approach based on the age group you're working with, offering appropriate activities and discussions.
Seek Feedback: Continuously seek feedback from children and young people to understand their experiences and preferences, and to improve outreach initiatives.
Community Engagement: Advocate for the importance of engaging with CYP in community initiatives when working with clients, considering the long-term impact on both participants and their communities.
Inclusivity: Create an inclusive environment that respects diverse backgrounds, abilities, and experiences, while conducting activities ethically and respecting cultural identities.