We chatted to Jake, Rita, Emrys and Helen, four young people who have been involved in recruitment processes at Barnardo’s, Jenny Humphreys and Bronte Edwards, from our Voice and Influence team, and Jodie Pritchard, Director of Learning & Development who was interviewed by young people when joining Barnardo’s, to hear why involving young people in our decision-making is so important.
Access to opportunities
The recruitment process isn’t stereotypically an area where you would find youth voice. But, by being invited into these conversations and having the opportunity to take part, young people have the chance to share their opinions and insights and help us make decisions which change childhoods and change lives.
Being involved in a recruitment process can look different every time. It could include being part of a panel, supporting in interviews, and sharing thoughts and feedback on who might be the best fit for a job.
[In the young person’s panel], we have done a lot of different interviews for a lot of different departments. We were also involved in recruiting Lynn Perry, our current CEO!
Emrys, 21
Barnardo’s young person panel member
The impact of having young voices involved in recruitment processes
From retail to fundraising recruitment, to helping with the big decision of choosing our CEO, for Jake, Rita, Emrys and Helen, having the opportunity to be involved with this kind of decision-making was key to having their voice heard.
Young people know more about what is needed for young people as we’re the ones that are working with the services. What’s important to us might be different to what’s important to the professionals involved.
Helen, 24
Barnardo’s young person panel member
“I’ve been doing interviews for twelve years now, and I think it’s great because it shows how Barnardo’s actually listens to young people. As young people, we know what we want. We want the best of the best. We want to hire someone who is passionate and driven and being in the interviews means we can get that across”, added Jake (23).
“It’s [also] all about the good experience for young people”, emphasised Rita (19).
There are many benefits to involving young people in the recruitment process. From learning new skills like teamwork and negotiation, building confidence and self-esteem, and improving their own interview skills – there is a lot to experience for the young people.
Jenny Humphreys
Barnardo’s Strategic Voice and Influence Lead
"It’s also an opportunity for us, as staff, to see how candidates interact with children and young people. To the candidates involved, they are also able to gain a better understanding of our commitment to amplifying children and young people’s voices and experiences, and see first-hand that we value it and take it seriously", added Jenny.
“I was interviewed by three young people as part of joining Barnardo's. When I heard about this stage of the process, my first thought was ‘wow’”, added Jodie.
Having young people involved in the recruitment process brought the work of the charity to life, and made it really clear in my mind that this was an organisation I wanted to be a part of.
Jodie Pritchard
Director of Learning & Development
“It's easy for organisations to have values but to live by them is very different. Through having young people so clearly involved with the recruitment process it was obvious that Barnardo's really valued young people's voices and experiences”, added Jodie.
The importance of youth voice in decision-making
Giving young people opportunities to share their opinions in decision-making is crucial to understanding their experiences and hearing their thoughts about the issues that matter most to them.
Barnardo’s is here […] to listen to young people, project [our] voice and help us be heard. That’s what we need. As young people, we want to be listened to, and we know what we want - we’ve seen the good and the bad.
Jake, 23
Barnardo’s young person panel member
"It is so important to include young people in decision making. Youth voice is so powerful! If we are making decisions about children and young people, we have to be involving them in those decisions where it is appropriate. Where we aren’t involving children and young people in the decision-making process, we must explain why and instead consult with them", emphasised Bronte Edwards from our Voice and Influence team.
Young people are our leaders of today and tomorrow. Nobody knows what it’s like to be a young person, except a young person.
Bronte Edwards
Barnardo’s Voice and Influence Project Lead
Including young people in our decision-making centers young voices in everything we do, helping to shape the way we work. This means that we can continue to create safer, happier, healthier and more hopeful childhoods.
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