National Centre for Family Hubs conference: panel three - integration, participation & young people

The panel discussed their answers to the question ‘how do we engage with young people within the whole family of family hubs?’. They explored how family hubs consider and support the needs of youth transition to adulthood with a focus on safeguarding and spaces within family hubs. The panel began by highlighting the importance and nuances of the adolescence period, which was also referred to as the 1001 days in the second decade. They also raised the importance of engaging with young people through meaningful participation work and asking them what they want and need. We heard about how physical family hub spaces need to be accessible and cater to young people, as well as meeting young people where they feel safe. They also touched upon engaging with parents of adolescences in terms of contextual safeguarding. Practice examples included building sustainable pop-up youth clubs in local venues within Kent Local Authority.

Panellists:
• Huma Haque (Chair) - Evidence and Implementation Lead, Anna Freud Centre
• Emma Rigby – CEO, Association of Young People’s Health
• Dr Karla Goodman – Practice Lead, London Innovation and Improvement Alliance
• Matt Raleigh – Programme Lead, London Innovation and Improvement Alliance
• Nasreen Siddique – Youth Participation Advisor, Anna Freud Centre
• Tim O’Brien - Service Manager, Kent Local Authority
• Kim Reed – Policy Lead, Home Office