WM ADCS Regional Meeting – Putting Participation on the map

It was great to receive positive feedback from the Voice and Engagement Team following the successful 'Putting Participation on the Map' conference on Tuesday 24 September at Worcestershire Cricket Ground.

The conference was co-hosted by Abdul who is the co-chair of the West Midlands Participation Leads Network. The network has been operating for several years now and its aim is to bring together all 14 local authorities and Trusts across the region to have a consistent approach and to raise the profile around participation.

The morning session included the sharing of best practice, feedback from the working groups which focussed on the Regional Care Leaver Offer. Tom Davies presented showcased what we do in Sandwell, showcasing our new Working Together strategy and facilitating a workshop about developing a Regional Participation Strategy.

Young people at the session said that ‘once again, Sandwell are leading the way when it comes to hearing the voice of the child’.

In the afternoon there was a presentation from the sponsor of the network who presented the link between the network and the priorities set by the region. An ASEND best practice presentation was also given by His Majesty’s Inspectors and to conclude the afternoon, certificates were given out to a group of young people from the region for delivering Participation Training to staff across the region.