The Big idea
Young NCB led on a project called the Big Idea. Initially this
project was about getting together a group of young people to help
inform and design a building that would be home to a number of
charities to work from. Young People involved in the project were
given training that would help them in the designing and
development stage. Unfortunately due to many reasons the project
had to change direction.
As an alternative a few organisations with projects to do with
young people and the built environment were selected and their
young people given training to support their projects progression.
As a result, a toolkit was designed based on the training and
learning both the steering group and the young people from other
projects had. This toolkit would help people wishing to involve
young people in the built environment.
Read what Emrys Green a Big Idea Steering Group member
had to say about the project:
The experience that I have had with the Big Idea project
along with all the other young people involved has been amazing. We
have learnt so much and have helped other young people to learn
too. But it’s not just us. I believe that giving a better quality
of life to young people will also improve their willingness to
contribute to the community in other ways.
A toolkit was designed from the training and learning we had
while involved with the Big Idea project. This toolkit includes
lots of useful information and contacts, but the main part of it is
the training we had to help make sure our contribution to our
projects was the best possible.
The impact of the training we received has been great. It’s true
that we don’t have to be trained in design, but the background we
got from the training has given us the confidence and basic
understanding to achieve what we want, whether it’s a new building,
redecoration of an existing site, or development of a whole area.
And, as buildings don’t last for a couple of years but are there
for generations, young people need to be involved in the built
environment to make sure things aredone right for the future, not
just now.
I think that this toolkit will be a fantastic asset for anyone
who picks it up. Not only will it help them to engage with young
people but it will also help them design with and for young people.
And the training is so useful that I would recommend it to young
people and workers who are working towards a similar
project.