Coventry is to be the first place in the country to run a new national award which recognises the best services for young people.
The Involve award has been set up to ensure children and teenagers have a say in the way services they access are run.
An organisation achieves the award when it involves young people in the design, delivery and monitoring of its services.
The project, which is managed by the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Partnership (CSWP), was commissioned by Coventry City Council’s Children’s Fund.
To achieve the award, services must meet national standards and complete a portfolio which is signed off by the children and young people who use the services.
Colin Green, Coventry’s director of children’s services, said: “The Involve award has high standards and exacting criteria and the project team has put a huge effort into making sure that all the steps that need to be taken are present.
“The portfolio gives organisations all the resources and guidelines they will need for success in achieving the award.”
Details of the award and its portfolio were compiled by a focus group of children and young people, including pupils at Moat House Primary School in Wood End, Sacred Heart Youth Group in Stoke and the Connexions-run Change Makers.
Craig Smith, manager of Involve at CSWP, said: “An organisation is better placed to carry out its work when it understands what children and young people want from its services.
“This award really brings the two together with the outcome that young people can feel satisfied their views are being heard and that organisations can feel confident they are providing not only the best possible service but a service that people want to access.”
A portfolio will be available for all schools, colleges and other organisations which work with children and young people and already up to 60 have expressed interest in achieving the standard.
If the award proves to be successful it may be rolled out by local authorities across the country.
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