Valuing young people’s lived experience means recognising what they know about their own lives and giving that knowledge real influence. Principle 8 of Leaders Like Us explores how young people’s insights into access, safety, confidence, culture and relationships can help programmes work better in practice.
This resource offers practical ways to create supported roles in design, delivery and decision-making, with different routes to contribute beyond speaking in a group. It explains why participation should never depend on sharing private experiences, and why one young person should not be expected to represent a whole community. It also covers clear consent, relevant information gathering and strength-based storytelling produced with young people rather than focused on hardship.
Use the examples, suggested actions and signs of progress to review whose perspectives shape your programme and how you show what changed. The emphasis is on choice, privacy and appropriate staff support, so young people can contribute without carrying complex needs or feeling pressured to disclose.
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