Shelter's Youth Panel

The aim of the Shelter's Youth Panel is to give young people a chance to share their unique experiences at many different levels. The feedback from the panel directly influences the work of Shelter's Young Persons Team and Shelter as a charity.

The panel members are young people aged 16 to 25 from a variety of backgrounds. Many live in supported youth housing projects, some have their own tenancies and have experienced homelessness, whilst others have experienced, or are still living in, the care system.

Young people can benefit greatly from involvement with Shelter's youth panel - they gain new skills, meet other young people from different social and cultural backgrounds and also have the chance to gain an accredited qualification for their work.

Recent activities include:

• the creation of a resource pack, 'A new tomorrow', to assist residential staff working with young people who are preparing to move into independent accommodation.
  
• starring in a film: 'Youth Homelessness: why doesn't anybody listen?', which aims to give people an insight into their experiences
• presenting their views to the Hills Review of social housing.
  

The panel is currently based in Merseyside, but recent involvement with other agencies will see the development of membership with young people in Cheshire and Greater Manchester, with a view to extending the panel to reflect as many regions as possible.

For more information on the panel, or to find out how young people can get involved, email the Young Persons Team's Education and Participation Officer michelle_ryding@shelter.org.uk.