Making the Change (2010)

Project Background

Project Managers: Jane Martin, Matt Daw
Local Coordination: Karen Gleave, Anne McManiman
PhotoVoice Facilitators: Adam Lee, Bec Garland, Colin McPherson, Glynis Shaw, John Lafferty, Tabitha Jussa

In 2010 the Northwest Regional SEN Hub Steering group decided that the focus of their work strand should be to give a platform to the young people of the region so that services could be improved based on their perceptions and experiences.

The NW Hub commissioned PhotoVoice to run photography workshops with more than 30 young people across eight local authorities, in Bury, Cumbria, Cheshire East, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens and Warrington. In April 2010 some of the work produced by the young people was showcased at an event based at SEN practitioners from across the North West, held at the Reebok Stadium. The event provided a platform for a representative group of young people with SEN and Disabilities to showcase their work and share their messages with decision makers and managers from the region and from the National Field force. Young people attended to explain their work, share their thoughts with delegates directly, and to demonstrate their talents through dance, poetry and song.

Final report into the outcomes of the project (pdf)

Project photo gallery

Project Outputs

An in-depth report was produced by the NW Hub to capture the learning from the process and the key messages from the young people who took part, to ensure that the findings inform future improvements to transition services in the participating local authorities and beyond. The report also aims to promote the use of participatory projects such as these as a means of involving young people in the decision making processes that will ultimately affect them most.

The photographs by the young people have been used to create a poster exhibition for display in schools and SEN departments, and an A5 booklet designed for use with young people to prompt discussion of issues around transition and what the change may mean for them. If you are interested in any of the outputs from the project please contact Project Manager Matt Daw - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Download the poster exhibition as an A4 pdf: makingthechange_postersa4.pdf