Include Youth

Policy

Include Youth is one of the lead agencies in advocating for policy developments for marginalised children and young people particularly those involved with the criminal justice system. Our policy activity is informed by both young people directly affected by the implementation of policy decisions and by professionals from all sectors across Northern Ireland who work directly with these children and young people. We use their collective experiences to inform policy positions which are well-researched and underpinned by children's rights principles.

Achieving a shift in the focus of government policy or changing legislation is something which seldom happens overnight. Include Youth's strength is its patience recognising the importance of working at the pace of government and other bodies. In this context it is important that Include Youth sustains the ability to inform, make relevant contributions and generate interest and debate amongst and with young people, practitioners, communities, political representatives the voluntary and community sector, the public and the media. We consider this to be a key function of the Policy Service within Include Youth.

Please use the search below to access and download Include Youth's policy responses.

• "Every School a Good School: The Way Forward For Special Education Needs and Inclusion

  Include Youth welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation document and to engage in the debate on how we can overcome barriers to learning for all children. more »

• Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: Rural Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion Framework

  Include Youth welcomes the publication of the Rural Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion Framework and is pleased to have the opportunity to make this response. more »

• Include Youth's Response to 'A legislative Framework for Mental Capacity and Mental Health Legislation in NI'

  We welcome the fact that the Department has taken on the recommendation of the Bamford Review to bring in both pieces of legislation at the same time. more »

• Every School a Good School: A Strategy for Raising Achievement in Literacy and Numeracy

  This response outlines a number of recommendations based on consultations with young people from the Give & Take Scheme and Young Voices. It highlights the fact that children's experiences of school is very much determined by their family background and the area in which they live. The response also identifies clear links between social disadvantage and educational disadvantage and the challenges for teachers working in disadvantged schools. There is a challenge to all those working in the school system to make every effort to minimalise the effects of disadvantage onour more vulnerable young people. more »

• Include Youth's Responses to Review of NI Policing Board's Community Engagement Strategy

  Include Youth is grateful to have the opportunity to comment on the review of the Community Engagement Strategy. Include Youth believes that the test for this strategy is not so much the framework which is appropriate but the actual commitment that the Board gives to this work. more »