Positive images
To promote positive images of children and young people
Children and Young People HIV Network
The Children and Young People HIV Network is supported by a reference group and a network and works to build partnerships with agencies and organisations that have an interest in, or work with children and young people infected with, and affected by HIV. Children and young people's experiences and views are at the centre of its work. The challenge is to raise the profile of the experiences of these children and give a voice to a predominately-hidden minority, many of whom live 'double lives' due to the imposed secrecy that in this current climate, HIV demands. It maintains an email bulletin (send a blank email to: join-hiv-news@ncb-lists.org.uk).
Policy and Parliamentary Information (PPI) Digest
PPI Digest is a weekly round-up of the latest policy and parliamentary information which affects children and young people. Coverage is England, with reference to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland where applicable. Emailed weekly, it covers legislation, parliamentary debates, statistics, consultation documents, policy reports and news. Each item has a brief abstract, details of which UK country it applies to and a web link. The Digest is added to the members' pages of NCB's web site every week.
Every Disabled Child Matters campaign
Every Disabled Child Matters is a national campaign to get rights and justice for every disabled child with a focus on targeting Westminster and Whitehall. The campaign is run as an equal partnership between all four organisations, who each have one seat on the campaign board. Our vision is that disabled children and their parents are able to live ordinary lives. We do this through: raising the political profile of disabled children and their families within central and local government; asking challenging questions to government in order to create the space for effective policy making; seeking to represent a credible voice for disabled children, their families and our campaign network.
Making Ourselves Heard: making sure disabled children's right to be heard becomes a reality
Disabled children and young people are currently an invisible group in society. The more complex their needs, the more invisible they appear to become. This project is about changing that, by mapping and publicising the work of those who get it right; by giving disabled children and young people direct access to government and policy makers and by ensuring the voices of disabled young people, and their success stories are heard.
National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care (NCERCC)
NCERCC disseminates good practice for children in residential care through the production of relevant materials and resources; hosting and participating in conferences, seminars and training events; and undertaking appropriate media activity in collaboration with relevant NCB departments. It organises an annual sector-wide conference on residential child care, which brings together a wide cross-section of stakeholders to discuss key issues and exchange good practice. Conference proceedings are widely circulated to promote discussion and development.
NYA (National Youth Agency) Young Researcher Network
The YRN has 16 partner organisations, including NCB, set up to support and encourage young people's active participation in youth led research in order to facilitate their voice in influencing policy and practice. A group of young people at NCB will undertake a research project on 'media portrayal of teenagers - impact and influences'. The main topic is to explore the way in which teenagers (13-18) are portrayed in the media and the impact that this has on young people.
Young Volunteers Leadership Programme
This is a unique programme in which young people will identify, design and deliver a local project of their choice for the benefit of the community. In each of the three years, the project will give 60 young people, aged 16-25, part-time volunteer opportunities in three regions: London, South East and South West; North East, North West, Yorkshire and The Humber; and East Midlands, West Midlands, and East of England. There will be 180 volunteers over the duration of the programme. The programme will offer two distinct routes for volunteering opportunities. Either as a volunteer leader - each year 12 volunteers will be trained and supported to be responsible for the vision, development, planning and delivery of each local project, or as an impact volunteer - each year 48 volunteers will be peer trained and supported to support the volunteer leaders. Based on messages and research from Young NCB members, the following examples show the kind of project the children and young people might be expected to develop: tackling negative media images and the stereotyping of young people; local transport issues; or mental health issues.
The Good Childhood Inquiry: consultation with diverse groups of young people
As well gathering research evidence and talking to adults, this project will gather the views from children and young people in Northern Ireland. The Children's Society has identified six groups of children and young people they wish to consult: children with disabilities, traveler children, children under five years of age, children in secure accommodation, children in public care and refugees and asylum seekers. Each group will meet once to discuss one of the following themes: friends; family; learning; lifestyle and health and diet.
Strengthening the Voice of Young People in Northern Ireland
The project will work directly with children and young people using a range of creatively designed tools and exercises. The children and young people will be involved in designing resources, assisting in research and participating in group activities to increase their confidence, encourage participation and improve opportunities for young people to have a voice.
Child Safety Education Coalition
Members of the coalition will work together to identify common and avoidable injuries to children and young people. Activities where practical safety education could be improved, extended or introduced will be identified to provide children with opportunities to develop risk competence appropriate to their age and developmental stage. These skills will be transferable to all aspects of their lives and will enable children and young people to have the confidence to put their risk competence into practice.
Skills Development Programme
NCB’s Skills Development Programme creates ‘on the job’ learning opportunities for young people within community and voluntary sector organisations. Previously unemployed young people aged between 18 and 24 will gain valuable skills and experience in job roles lasting for five months, working 25 hours per week within Lewisham, Greenwich, Lambeth, Hackney, Newham or Tower Hamlets.Th programme will improve the diversity of the workforce within the community and voluntary sector and facilitate change through young people’s participation in their local communities. Working in partnership with other organisations, NCB will create 51 jobs over 12 months. The young people will be supported by NCB throughout the programme, and beyond, with a comprehensive one-month induction, tailored learning plans, mentoring, and support to secure permanent employment.