Conference+Programme

=|| New Media for Youth Engagement  | |  = =  **Draft Conference Programme ****. **  = = **Date:** Monday 29 June 2009 =
 * Venue:** The George Hotel, Devonshire Street, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 7SU. Tel. 01768 862696
 * Time:** 10.00am - 4.00pm

**Conference and Workshop details - Physical Arrangements: **

One large room, which can accommodate up to 100 participants will be used for the event. Seating will be at tables. Using a square U shape, everyone will have a view to front. 7 people at each table; 3 tables per row; and 5 rows altogether will accommodate all participants.

Wireless link to the Internet. Note: (Anna - arrange lap-top). Screen and projector, also flipcharts will be on hand.

Tea/coffee and finger buffet will be served in the smaller Regency room attached to the main hall.

Future scenario workgroups will be held in the main conference room during the afternoon. Tables to be re-arranged to accommodate 6 workgroups. A group of up to 10 participants may opt to take part in a parallel new media workshop, to take place in the smaller room attached to the main conference hall. Lap-tops, some with webcams, will be set up on tables for this session.


 * Objectives and Format**

The aim of the conference is to provide opportunity for different partner sectors throughout Cumbria to consider the potential of new media for youth engagement and explore the following central question:

//How and to what extent can new media be designed specifically to provide a routine, sustainable, interactive channel through which young people in Cumbria take a major role in engaging with one another and with those who deliver services to them, to continuously improve the things that affect them and/or mean something to them and their local areas?//

Presentations will be followed by introduction of a demonstration project, Eden Media, developed by Eden District Council to illustrate the potential of using new media for youth engagement. Several more presentations will follow. After lunch, a Q & A session and open discussion will be followed by workgroup sessions.

The conference will end with feedback leading to a core set of recommendations/actions for what to do next and how to move forward.


 * **9.30 - Registration ** ||


 * **Welcome followed by Presentations: Engaging/involving young people; practical demonstration of Eden Media** ||
 * 10.00 - 10.05**: Welcome and Introduction to the conference**.** David Robinson, Conference Chair.
 * 10.05 - 10.15:** Engaging and involving young people. 'Engage Eden' Kevin Douglas. Chief Executive EDC; Representative on Children's Trust Board
 * 10.15 - 10.45:** New media for Youth participation: Demonstration of Eden Media
 * 1) Anna Malina, Consultation officer, Eden District Council: Intro to the demonstration 'Eden Media' Project (approx 4 minutes)
 * 2) Dawn Hurton, Children & Young People's Officer, Eden District Council: Outlining Council's need to engage with young people (up to 3 minutes)
 * 3) Steve Thompson, ST Media and Digital Innovation Unit, Tesside University: Eden Media website - Steve will demonstrate site and illustrate how it was done (approx 15 minutes). Note: Conference participants may ask questions during the presentation.
 * 4) Anna Malina, Consultation Officer, Eden District Council: Future Scenario model for small scale youth media in Cumbria (3 minutes)
 * 5) Views/comments from young people: Phil Gladwin, Shaun Deighton, Abbie Pepper, Kelsey Floydd, led by Chris Solf. (5 minutes)

The Eden Media demonstration will be followed by comments from Phil Gladwin, Shaun Deighton, Abbie Pepper, and Kelsey Floydd, a group of young people who have assessed True Tube and the Eden Media website. They will comment on how young people would like to have their say using internet sites, emails, texts, etc. The group is led by Chris Solf, Trainee Youth and Community Worker, Kirby Stephen. 
 * 10.45 - 11.00**: Tim Davies, an independent consultant and researcher from the UK, writing about young people's participation, social media and social change - Talking about 'Youth participation and Social Media'


 * **11.00 - 11.15** **Coffee Break** ||


 * **Presentations - Youth Participation Support - What's happening on the ground!** ||
 * **11.15 - 12.00** ||
 * 1) **Children's Youth Services/WotOn4U:** **Jamie Tickner,** WotsOn4U Directory Manager: Directory for Youth participation (10 mins)
 * 2) **Cumbria Youth Support Services, Kath Calvert** - Work of the Youth Participation Team (10 mins)
 * 3) **Brathay** **Trust**, **Louise Burner,** Youth Participation Project Co-ordinator - Co-ordinating Youth Participation (10 mins)
 * 4) **Connexions, Richard Frank, Youth Work Contracts Lead : '**SpeakUp' (10 mins)


 * 12.00 - 12.15 Questions and Answers covering morning session**

Open discussion about new media for youth engagement. Chaired by David Robinson Possible themes for discussion: **
 * **12.15 - 1.00** **– LUNCH** ||
 * **Open Discussion.** ||
 * 1.00 - 1.30
 * What are the Benefits & Challenges of new media for youth engagement? (general)
 * Costs and resources to set up local media (Info from Steve Thompson in conference pack)
 * Website Moderation. (Comments from Steve and Tim)
 * Safety on the Web. (Tim Davies will provide resource pack on this and can give a few slides)
 * Basic principles underpinning local development (Information included in Conference Pack)
 * What resources would be needed to sustain new media for youth participation at local level in Cumbria? (general)

Using a version of the Social Media Game to explore different ways in which services and projects can use social media and grass-roots media to make sure young people are heard in decision making.
 * **1.30 - 2.30 Parallel Workshops** ||
 * ** Workshop 1. Social Media Scenarios - looking at the tools, approaches and resources for effective engagement - led by Tim Davies** ||

There will be six tables working on different challenges such as:
 * Involving young people in strategic planning;
 * Hearing about the issues that affect young people in the local area;
 * Engaging with young people to improve local healthcare;
 * Getting young people's input into the day-to-day running of services;
 * Involving young people in shaping their schools and colleges;
 * Making Councillors aware of the issues that matter to young people;

Each table will have a custom set of Social Media Game cards, and will be able to choose up to 10 points worth of tools and approaches, to place into a table where they also need to write about: At around 2.15 - groups will be encouraged to finalise their scenarios. They will be introduced to the Ladder of Participation via a slide, and encouraged to think about how their chosen scenario can be (a) genuinely participative, and (b) sustainable in their own organisations.
 * **The Tools for the Job** || **The benefits** || **The challenges** || **What is needed to make it work, and make it sustainable** ||
 * Different social media tools and approaches (from Social Media Game cards). || A list of benefits of using this tool / this approach. || A list of possible challenges or risks. || Ideas for resources that might be needed, such as training. ||

Up to 8 participants may take part in a workshop to explore practical use of new media with Steve Thompson.
 * **2. New Media Workshop - led by Steve Thompson.** ||


 * **2.30 - 2.50 - Coffee Break** ||


 * **2.50 - 3.20 - Looking forward: Where to from here?** ||
 * Led by Tim Davies**. Feedback from workshops/practical sessions feeding into ideas for the next steps.

Asking delegates to consider when they hear strategies whether or not those would work in their own organisations, and to talk about opportunities for working in partnership.

Tim to record feedback and draw out key themes. Panel discussion chaired by Tim Davies. Each speaker giving a brief input on where they see the next steps being & taking a few questions and remarks from the floor.
 * **3.20 - 3.50 - The next steps: Panel** ||

Possible panellists: Participants
 * David Robinson
 * Anna Malina, Eden District Council
 * Louise Burner, Brathay
 * Richard Frank, Connexions 'Speak Up'
 * Steve Thompson
 * Youth Group - Phil Gladwin, Shaun Deighton, Abbie Pepper, Kelsey Floydd
 * **3.50 - 4.00pm: Final Comments from Chair, acknowledgements and close** ||
 * Invited to complete Conference Assessment forms.


 * **4.00pm: END** ||