Grass roots work with children and young people, in their neighbourhoods or interest groups, is one of our main priorities, as this is their starting point. What happens in their street or neighbourhood, or their common experiences as part of a specific group, are the things that young people can readily identify as having an impact on their lives. By working with them to improve their local environment or situation, they are able to see how their involvement can make a direct impact. This builds their capacity and confidence to engage in wider agendas and helps them to understand how local or personal issues link to wider political and decision making structures.

Examples of our work include:

• Involving young people in the development of their local park, including designing a new skate park, securing funding to buy safety equipment, and to train as safety trainers to support other young people to use the park safely
• Supporting young people to be involved in the development of a new youth building in their local community
• Creating structures and projects to involve young people in a community regeneration programme including involving them in decision making on regeneration fund spending panels
• Setting up a young people’s community chest.