Workshop 11:
The Young Producers: Creating Sustainable Co-Production Programmes for Young People

Christina Torrente

Participants will work through three creative mini-workshops together, learning in groups and sharing hands-on tips on how to create sustainable co-production programmes for young people, including learnings from the Young Producers programme at Imperial College London.

Mini-workshop 1 — Get them through the door: Using a summary of the Young Producers programme, groups will put together a flyer to promote it. Then we will compare their flyers with the actual flyer that was co-designed with young people. We will then discuss the benefits of co-design to reach specific audiences.

Mini-workshop 2 — Get them comfortable: Groups will get a picture of a classroom. Using post-its/craft materials/stickers they will be tasked with making the space welcoming for young people, plus decide on methods to enable them in the space (for example “paying young people to ensure commitment”). We will discuss their suggestions and the elements that we have tried in the Young Producers and their impact.

Mini-workshop 3 — Get them to stay: Groups will get real quotes from young people stating different needs and desires, and will have to find ways of providing new opportunities for them. We will then share how we have continued our relationship with the young people, making the programme sustainable and giving it legacy.