🎙️ In this episode of the What Really Matters – Panel Discussions podcast, we bring together voices from a National Youth Panel to explore youth voice, lived experience, and the realities facing young people and those supporting them today. Featuring Leigh Middleton, Vanessa Rodgers, John Rose and Emma Warren.
This conversation goes beyond surface-level discussion, diving into the tension between systems and real-life experiences. From consultation fatigue and tokenism to the importance of authentic relationships and trust, the panel share honest reflections on what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change.
We explore:
• Why young people are disengaging from surveys and consultations. and what that says about trust.
• The difference between being managed and being genuinely supported. • The role of youth work as a critical (but often invisible) pillar in young people’s lives.
• How systems can unintentionally patronise young people. and how to shift towards meaningful participation.
• The impact of wider pressures, like the cost of living on young people and communities.
• Why lived experience, consistency, and relationships are at the heart of effective youth work.
🎓 A raw and honest discussion that challenges systems, amplifies youth voice, and reminds us what it really takes to support young people and communities to thrive.
🎙️ Want to have your say on What Really Matters to you? Contact Ben Carpenter at info@grassrootcommunities.org 👉 Subscribe for more conversations amplifying young people’s voices and creating a platform for real change.
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Learning from the past and present to help inform a brighter future — What Really Matters ❤️
