Knowsley Young Advisors

Knowsley Young Advisors are young people aged between 16 - 21, who guide community leaders and decision makers on how to engage young people in community life, regeneration and renewal.

Young Advisors are locally recruited and professionally trained by the Young Advisors Charity and Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (KMBC) to provide links between professionals, young people and their communities, ensuring that plans and delivery are relevant and respected. Young Advisors bring unique expertise and knowledge about being young in their area, to influence organisation’s strategic planning, decision-making and budgeting processes. They can also work directly with other children and young people to encourage them to get involved in their community and issues important to them.

‘Youth Proof’ – ensuring practices, policies, strategies and commissioning are youth friendly.

‘Action Walks’ – gathering neighbourhood intelligence from children, young people and members of the community.

‘Research & Evidence Gathering’ – through neighbourhood intelligence and consultation with children, young people and services.

‘Engagement & Consultation’ – innovate, interactive and inclusive consultation design and delivery by the Young Advisors

Young Advisors are brokers of relationships and will support community leaders and decision makers in finding ways to engage young people in community life, regeneration and renewal. Young Advisors ensure the views of young people are heard, so children and young people can be informed, involved, influential and empowered.

Young Advisors offer a consultancy service that is like no other! Young Advisors are trained to improve services and create sustainable regeneration of communities. The Young Advisors unique selling point is innovative and enthusiastic problem solving skills guided by the direct experience of being a young person in today’s rapidly changing world.

Knowsley Young Advisors Programme is supported by the Directorate of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Engagement & Participation Team. The Young Advisors have all completed a 30 hour training programme which is accredited by the Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN). The training is provided by the Young Advisors Charity, and covers the following key areas:

• National Agendas & Policy
• Areas for Personal Development
• Group Working & Team Building
• Research & Evidence Gathering
• Mapping & Youth Proofing
• Blocks, Barriers & Action Planning
• Differing Needs - prejudice, exclusion
• Evaluation
• Structures - contacts, networking
• Presentation Skills
• Marketing, Risk Assessment, Sustainability

In addition to the training provided by the Young Advisors Charity, Knowsley Young Advisors all complete criminal record checks and the following Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (KMBC) Essential Training:

• Safeguarding Children
• Equality & Diversity
• Health, Safety & Welfare
• Disability Awareness
• First Aid

If you are interested in commissioning us please feel free to download our Commissioning Resource Pack that you can find on our Contact Us page.