Systems change in youth leadership starts with reviewing programme conditions that make participation difficult. Principle 7 of Leaders Like Us explores how to change design, delivery and expectations rather than asking young people to fit a programme that does not reflect their lives.
This resource offers practical ways to respond to recurring issues such as lateness, kit costs or demands that feel overwhelming. Explore changes to session times, communication, forms, activity roles and access to equipment, alongside clearer instructions, more time and quieter spaces. It also encourages teams to resource practical participation costs and build planned alternatives into routine delivery rather than rely on last-minute adjustments.
Use the examples, suggested actions and signs of progress to agree one small change at a time, record it and give someone responsibility for following it up. Tell young people what changed because of their feedback and check whether adaptations are supporting attendance, engagement, confidence and progression.
After viewing this module, move to the next one here:
Leaders Like Us Module 12, Principle 8: Value young peoples lived experience – JU:MP
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