Young Changemakers in World’s End secure support from MP
Since September 2024, we have been training a team of Young Changemakers across three schools in World’s End, teaching them how to make change in their local area on issues that matter to them, lead listening campaigns, and build relationships with decision-makers. They have led a cross-school listening campaign involving around 200 young people and a year and a half of deep listening work and collaborative action has led to tangible change in their community.
What is collective action?
Our collective action work is based on the principle that the trusted relationships we build with young people, families, and community organisations, are the vital foundation to youth-led changemaking and fostering an ecosystem that is responsive to the needs of young people. To hear more about their journey so far read, our previous blogs: Collective Action in Action: Young People Leading Change and World’s End Youth Accountability Assembly: From Listening to Action
Campaign wins so far
This year, the young people have celebrated tangible wins including a new gaming room and creative club at Flashpoint Adventure Playground; a dedicated activity timetable for young people in World’s End created by Young K&C; and three years of funding residential trips hosted by Chelsea Youth Club. These wins have been supported by the World’s End Youth Activities Network, a group of local partners working alongside AllChild who are committed to actioning youth voice and working collaboratively to improve local youth provision.
Building relationships with decision-makers
After a second listening campaign, this year people have set their sights on a longer-term goal: renovating a playground on the World’s End Estate that hasn’t changed for over 20 years. In November, our Young Changemakers led a meeting with two key figures within Kensington & Chelsea Council, Councillor Catherine Faulks, Lead Member for Family and Children’s Services, and Etiene Steyn, Head of Commissioning for Children’s Services, who agreed to organise a meeting with the Corporate Property team who can help progress their campaign.
“We want to see updated, exciting new equipment, specifically a zipline, trampoline, monkey bars and a climbing frame. These ideas don’t just belong to us, they have been shaped by the views of just under 200 children we have listened to across our schools.” – Young Changemaker
More people, more power – securing support from their local MP
On Friday 13th February, our young people co-chaired a World’s End Youth Activities Meeting and asked Ben Coleman, MP for Chelsea and Fulham, to support their campaign in front of a packed room of Network members. The young people also handed Ben letters from their headteachers and 20+ parents showing why this campaign is important to schools leaders and local families. Ben agreed to write to RBKC Council sharing his support for the campaign and to attend an event in summer to hear an update from the young people!
Sophia, Link Worker in Park Walk Primary School, said, “After the meeting with Ben Coleman, the young people said they felt: empowered, proud, respected, excited, and happy. These words give an insight into how the action, and collective action overall, impacts young people's confidence, public speaking skills, and understanding of the process of change making.”
The young people will continue working towards this long-term goal and steering the World’s End Youth Activities Network, with the aim of leaving a legacy for young people in their community.
