Roots to Change

In this episode, I interview two incredibly self-aware, compassionate and driven young people Ashleigh & SJ who participated in the Young Changemakers programme, a collaboration between UK Youth, Centre for Mental Health and Diana Award. We talk about what systems change means to them, their experiences of racial inequality in the mental health and education systems and they discuss their social action projects 'Team Not So Micro' and 'Team Change'. Trigger Warning: this episode contains reference racism, mental health & suicide. If you are affected by any of the issues raised, please check out the links below for further support. This episode features an original poem by SJ Young Changemakers Programme: https://diana-award.org.uk/our-programmes-and-initiatives/changemakers#:~:text=Young%20Changemakers%20is%20a%20collaboration,health%20services%20in%20the%20UK Links: Samaritans. Samaritans116 123jo@samaritans.orgvisit some branches in personNational Suicide Prevention Helpline UK.National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK0800 689 5652Shout. prefer not to talk85258ShoutAashnaaashna.ukBAATNbaatn.org.uk

In this episode, I interview a stand-out leader Craig Pinkney, criminologist, youth specialist and chief executive of SOLVE, the center for youth violence & conflict (https://solvecyvc.com/home). We talk about his journey into youth work, why self-exploration is so important for systems change and what it means to be anti-racist. Trigger Warning: this episode contains reference to violence. If you are affected by any of the issues raised, please check out the link below for further support. This episode features the music of Eko and his track 'Black to Reality'. Links: Support if you are affected by violence/crime:https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/ Craig Pinkney's LinkedinSOLVE's YouTube channeEko's TikTok channel Eko's Spotify channelEko's instagram pageEko's YouTube channel

Part 2 This is a 2 part episode, featuring an inspirational group of young people known as the Youth Led Commission on Separated Children (YLCSC) and Hilda, Youth Led Campaigns officer at the Children's Society. They are campaigning for all unaccompanied young refugees, who arrive in the UK alone to get a legal guardian. In these episodes we hear from Phoenix, Ayo, ibrahim, TJ and Ope and it features the song 'Human Kindness' by singer, songwriter Carrie Tree https://carrietree.bandcamp.com/track/human-kindness Links: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-campaigns/guardians-for-unaccompanied-children https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/distress-signals https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/blogs/democratic-citizenship/what-is-the-hostile-environment https://www.flipsnack.com/CA7CFEBBDC9/society-newsletter-summer-2022-tiqo8f8unf/full-view.html

Part 1 This is a 2 part episode, featuring an inspirational group of young people known as the Youth Led Commission on Separated Children (YLCSC) and Hilda, Youth Led Campaigns officer at the Children's Society. They are campaigning for all unaccompanied young refugees, who arrive in the UK alone to get a legal guardian. In these episodes we hear from Phoenix, Ayo, ibrahim, TJ and Ope and it features the song 'Human Kindness' by singer, songwriter Carrie Tree https://carrietree.bandcamp.com/track/human-kindness Link to part 2: http://bit.ly/3FuXRHb Links: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-campaigns/guardians-for-unaccompanied-children https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/distress-signals https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/blogs/democratic-citizenship/what-is-the-hostile-environment https://www.flipsnack.com/CA7CFEBBDC9/society-newsletter-summer-2022-tiqo8f8unf/full-view.html

In this episode I interview Ghino Parker, Centre director at Barnardo's who has worked across many communities to ensure that diverse voices are heard. In this episode we talk about: Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOe5-UsQ2o https://www.co-impact.org/gender-equality-and-intersectionality/#:~:text=Co%2DImpact's%20goal%20is%20to,the%20circumstances%20of%20their%20birth

In this special episode of Talking Change we ask how the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown is impacting the mental health and well-being of children and young people and what the longer term implications might be. We also discuss how migrant families subject to 'no recourse to public funds' are being particularly badly affected, and what can be done to help.

This episode is part II of our focus on the unique challenges faced by vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds as they navigate the often tricky transition to adulthood. This was recorded live from an event in Parliament where 13 organisations came together to launch a new report, Transitions into Adulthood. You’ll hear from some of the speakers at that event, and in particular, from young people who attended because they wanted to share their own stories with politicians.

In this episode, we’re talking about that awkward age between childhood and adulthood. For vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds this can be especially awkward, as support they receive from services will often drop away once they turn 18. The issues that 16 and 17 year olds face – such as mental ill health, poverty and homelessness – are rarely experienced in isolation. A group of organisations that support teenagers dealing with complex problems in their lives, have come together to call on the...

In this month's episode of Talking Change, we explore what financial crisis looks like for families and young people. For families in crisis, emergency funding from councils allows them to buy food, pay utility bills and keep their children safe. This support provides a vital safety net when the worst happens. But in many areas, this safety net is at real risk of disintegrating. For 1 in 7 councils, it has already disappeared. Our Strengthening the Safety Net campaign is calling on...

For the last couple of years, The Children’s Society has been running a highly successful local campaign asking councils to make young people who have left care exempt from paying council tax up to the age of 25. The campaign represents a fantastic example of how widespread, tangible change can be achieved by going local. Tens of thousands of care leavers are now exempt from paying council tax, helping to give them a few years of financial stability at a critical moment in their lives. In...

For young people struggling with their mental health, getting help can be hard. Long waiting times, strict criteria for access, and real uncertainty once you turn 18 are just some of the obstacles you can face in a system seriously failing to meet the level of need. The Government has recently unveiled a bold and ambitious set of reforms which they promise will transform the way that we approach children and young people’s mental health in this country. But does it stack up? In this...

I investigate the daily struggle faced by families subject to No Recourse to Public Funds, a condition of their immigration status that prevents them from accessing any benefits or welfare support. When these families fall into poverty, they are confronted with a unique set of challenges which can be extremely difficult to overcome. The consequences, particularly for children, can be devastating. I am joined in this episode by: For more information on The Children's Society's work on this...

This first episode explores the phenomenon of child criminal exploitation, in particular, children who have been exploited into selling drugs through so-called 'County Lines'. In conversation with three guests, I try to unpick just what 'County Lines' is, what it means for the young people caught up in it, and what can be done to tackle it. I am joined in the episode by: For more information on The Children's Society's work to combat criminal exploitation visit their website, where you...