Zmiany w „Birmingham City Council's Commitment -Youth-Evaluated Career Support Programme”
Opis (English)
-<h2><strong>The Problem</strong></h2><p>Young people often face outdated, impersonal, or inaccessible career guidance. Scenes from <em>You’re Fried!</em> highlighted that many were left to navigate unclear job options alone, faced discrimination (e.g. “-ology degrees won’t get you anywhere”), and received only generic lists of websites. Employers may not be prepared or resourced to offer meaningful placements. There is no system in place to listen to or learn from young people’s real experiences.</p><h3><strong>Policy Proposal:</strong></h3><p>Develop a shared career support toolkit and accountability system for employers and schools, evaluated by young people themselves, to ensure career guidance is relevant, inclusive, and responsive through cross-sector collaboration.</p><h3><strong>Amendments:</strong></h3><ul><li><p>Create a comprehensive support system, including a centralised portal for opportunities; accountability mechanisms in place, with regular check-ins between career advisors, parents, and students</p></li><li><p>Ensure inclusive design with focus on neurodiversity and disability support, safe workplace environments, and early application options for young people</p></li><li><p>Establish clear accountability roles for local councils and improve communication systems between parents, advisors, and employers</p></li></ul><h3><strong>Key Actions</strong></h3><ol><li><p><strong>National Careers Toolkit Co-Designed with Young People</strong></p><ul><li><p>A practical, adaptable toolkit for schools and employers that builds on existing initiatives, such <a target="_blank" href="https://participate.inspiredemocracy.eu/link?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youthemployment.org.uk%2F" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc"><u>Youth Employment UK(External link)</u></a></p></li><li><p>Includes:</p><ul><li><p>Guidelines on making placements meaningful and inclusive</p></li><li><p>A <strong>calendar of sector events</strong> (e.g., NHS college takeovers)</p></li><li><p>A pledge template for employers</p></li><li><p>Communication and consent protocols for young people and families</p></li><li><p>Guidance on feedback and check-ins</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Developed through workshops with young people from diverse backgrounds, including neurodivergent participants.</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Employer Pledge & Charter with Evaluation Criteria</strong></p><ul><li><p>Employers sign a local/regional <strong>Careers Charter</strong>, pledging to:</p><ul><li><p>Offer structured placements with real learning</p></li><li><p>Respect inclusion standards and fair pay practices where relevant</p></li><li><p>Receive and act on feedback</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Backed by public recognition and shared responsibility with schools and local authorities.</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Youth-Evaluated Feedback System (“Experience Check-Up”)</strong></p><ul><li><p>Every placement ends with an anonymised evaluation from the young participant.</p></li><li><p>Feedback is reviewed annually by local career boards or school authorities, with direct involvement of young people.</p></li><li><p>Data is used to improve practice and share good examples.</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Accessible & Inclusive by Design</strong></p><ul><li><p>Mechanisms to support young people with disabilities or mental health needs (as raised in scenes and comments).</p></li><li><p>Additional training to career advisors on listening empathetically and adapting opportunities.</p></li><li><p>Accessibility must be clear, documented, and evaluated — <strong>“What does accessibility mean and who’s responsible?”</strong></p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Cross-Sector Support and Monitoring</strong></p><ul><li><p>Employers receive the toolkit through CPD (Continuing Professional Development) events.</p></li><li><p>Combined authorities and councils involved to ensure visibility of local job markets.</p></li><li><p>Funding mechanisms and insurance policy reform supported by government to reduce burdens on small employers.</p></li></ul></li></ol>- +<p>Birmingham City Council has committed to fund and implement:</p><p><strong>Evaluation Training</strong></p><ul><li><p>To equip young people with the skills and confidence to lead evaluations on career support throughout 2026, working with the council to improve equitable access to work experience.</p></li><li><p>We have already organised a workshop (13 November 2025), facilitated by young people who participated in the INSPIRE project, and involving BCC, employers, and local youth groups. The workshop helped the young people and BCC refine and agree the details of the programme. The workshop was hosted by the local youth organisation, Dream Chaser Youth Club, who will be a partner in this follow up impact activity to support with recruitment of youth evaluators.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Training Activities</strong></p><ul><li><p>Recruitment of 45–50 young people (16-25) from diverse backgrounds, prioritising those from marginalised groups who tend not to participate in traditional youth engagement activities.</p></li><li><p>Two-day intensive training workshop led by BCC and INSPIRE young people, with support from NHS Birmingham and UoB researchers (with hybrid and video-recording options) to develop:</p><ul><li><p>Evaluation and research skills;</p></li><li><p>Facilitation techniques;</p></li><li><p>Understanding of policy processes and career support systems</p></li><li><p>Mentoring and peer-led components to strengthen confidence and youth democratic capabilities.</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Young people will receive a stipend and travel support to remove barriers to participation.</p></li></ul><p><strong> Evaluation Programme</strong></p><p>This evaluation will generate youth-led evidence to inform Birmingham’s Employment and Skills Strategy.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong></p><ul><li><p>Youth evaluators will use co-designed scorecards and mixed methods (surveys, focus groups, video reflections) to assess access, quality, fairness, and impact of career services.</p></li><li><p>Evaluations will cover schools, colleges, and public employment programmes.</p></li><li><p>Findings will be synthesised through co-production workshops, ensuring young people co-author the evaluation report, which will inform the BCC’s youth employment strategy.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Outcomes</strong></p><ul><li><p>Evidence-based and youth-led recommendations for improving equitable access to work experience.</p></li><li><p>A scalable model for inclusive youth engagement and youth-led evaluation applicable to other policy areas.</p></li></ul>