Penarth Youth Project Awarded Participation Kitemark

Posted:01/10/2012

Penarth Youth Project, in the Vale of Glamorgan, has recently been awarded the Participation Kitemark that focuses on the ‘National Children and Young People’s Participation Standards’.

Successful completion of the self-assessment, which allows organisations to compare themselves in line with children and young people’s participation standards, and the organisation to be inspected by a team of young inspectors. The 4 young inspectors, ranging from 14 – 18 years old, analysed the self-assessment and created an action plan to inspect Penarth Youth Project's work over two half days and one evening. These three inspections allowed the young people to utilise skills they had gained in training to effectively and critically inspect the school. Some of the methods they used were; session observations, questionnaires undertaken by the young people, general discussions, interviewing of staff, as well as looking at paper based evidence. They looked at both aspects of the work Penarth Youth Project undertake, both through the Disability TeenScheme and their Tuesday Youth Project.

The group worked hard over these three days and also over several weeks to produce a detailed report looking at areas of good practice and also areas for improvement. This was then put together, along with a PowerPoint presentation, sent to the Participation Unit, in order for the Kitemark to be awarded. Areas that were identified as particularly good in Penarth Youth Project included their work on Standard 3 - No Discrimination, Standard 4 - Respect and Standard 5 - You Get Something Out Of It.

Overall, Penarth Youth Project passed the criteria for the Participation Kitemark and was awarded the certificate at the Disability TeenScheme at Byrd Crescent Community Centre in the summer holidays.