by Author Dougie Lonie

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What needs to happen next?

Below are the key thoughts contributed to the discussion that explored the questions: What needs to happen next? How can Youth Music help to facilitate this?



 

  • Key need to bring together separated siblings. Joining up between groups is not necessarily about money. Noticed inc. partnership around CYP, but should be more.
  • Working in a small unitary authority = hard to work with others (UAs/LAs) due to financial restraints. Thus real need to network and for YM to support this.
  • Fundraising can be done in this way. Gave example of work with theatre where high profile actors were used to fundraise on behalf of CYP working with them.
  • Key question is how to facilitate the ‘corporate parent’.
  • The challenges faced are often very practical, such as transporting looked after children to and from projects and opportunities, esp. in rural areas.
  • Mentors can be very valuable way of supporting looked after children, but not always.
  • Joining up between groups is good because it supports a) practice sharing, b) raises quality, and c) pools provision and resources. Importance of now also joining up relationships, especially between carers and support workers.
  • Projects have achieved greatest successes when they have also been open to siblings and carer’s children, as this makes it easier for carers to commit. It also normalises looked after children because they become family events.
  • Also need to join up to lobby government with a collective voice.
  • Tension in government as there is a want for organisations for children and young people to be at a national level, but also wants ALL children and young people to be able to access them.
  • There is a need for a shared language to fully articulate the transformative power of music to all parties.
  • Yes, all parties should be involved in this – staff, carers, schools – especially schools.
  • Yes, when looked after children are first at school it is a critical time to advocate for services and support. Also, while the people running services are likely to change in difficult times, it is important to remember that the statutory responsibility of the state will remain.
  • Need for a centralised evidence base of work with looked after children and music making, and wider arts. If it is easy to know the key contacts at a local authority level that will enable several routes for support.

Please let us know in the comments section what you think needs to happen next and what Youth Music can do to help facilitate this.