Acorns Youth Panel

What is the Youth Panel?

The Youth Panel is made up of young people who have worked with either Acorns or our partner services, and who now want to draw on their experiences to make a difference. The panel focuses on the impact that unsafe and unhealthy relationships can have on young people. We listen to what our panel members have to say, and we speak up to local organisations and authorities to share the panel’s views and make positive changes for young people across the region.

Why do we need a Youth Panel?

We know that unhealthy, toxic and abusive relationships can impact children and young people’s health and wellbeing. We want to make sure that the support people receive in response to these issues is safe, effective and relevant. We know that in order for services to get things right, we need to collaborate with, listen to, and always be ready to learn from young people - that’s you!

In August 2023, we made a short video about the Youth Panel. Watch below!

What is the role of a Youth Panel Member?

The role of a panel member involves putting forward your thoughts and opinions, and sometimes gathering feedback from other young people. The panel is supported by Acorns Workers and we usually meet up once a month to discuss ideas, take part in consultations, and work on projects. This is then used to influence decision making and improve the quality of support that young people are offered.

The role can be varied and we recognise that everybody has unique interests and talents, so you can choose what areas you would like to be involved with… and of course we always welcome new ideas!

Opportunities include:

• Contributing to social media
• Consultations and feedback
• Working on campaigns
• Organising events
• Delivering training
• Specific projects

Who can join the Youth Panel?

The Youth Panel is open to young people age 14+ across the North Tyneside and Northumberland area, who have worked with Acorns or our partner services. If you haven’t worked with us, but you have been impacted by domestic abuse and would like to join the panel, you can apply too.

Do you care about young people’s services? Are you passionate about young people’s rights? Do you want to have your say and help shape the future for young people? We would love to hear and learn from you!

Reasons to join us!

We want your experience to be a personally positive and rewarding one, and we understand that people join for different reasons. We truly value your input and we’ll do whatever we can to support your participation and help you get the most out of it.

You can record your involvement with the Youth Panel as volunteer work on your CV, and volunteering hours for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. We’d also be more than happy to write you a reference for future job applications.

How can I get involved?

To join:

Fill in the contact form below and one of our workers will be in touch soon.

You can chat with one of our workers or attend a taster meeting before deciding if the Youth Panel is right for you, and you can opt out at any time.

We are a friendly group and warmly welcome new members!

Other ways to have your say:

If you have any feedback, project ideas for the Youth Panel, or your own thoughts on services for young people that you’d like to share, you can do so here anonymously, without the commitment of joining the panel.

To have your say, fill in the contact form below.