Look Back to the Future – a youth-led panel discussion from Power2

"This is the first time this has happened… no other generation knows what it’s like for young people right now," Blessing, 16.

How true – and are we really listening to hear the views of young people across the country going through such unprecedented times?

This time last week, a group of funders, supporters, and thought leaders took time out of the first day of the UK’s “Lockdown 2”, and the US election, to ‘stand in someone else’s shoes for a while’ and consider just this, at Power2’s brilliant Look Back to the Future virtual panel discussion. Power2 prioritises putting young people front and center, listening and responding to immediate needs, and we’ll keep on giving young people a platform to speak out and build a better future together.

I’ve been part of the Power2 Board of Trustees since 2016, and am consistently struck by the uplifting resilience of the young people we work with. It can be humbling and motivating to get a glimpse of the types of experiences lived through by these young people, and that’s part of what we were trying to achieve with this event.

The panel of seven young people, and social worker Kemoy Walker, took questions from Rob Powell and Reena Gogna of event sponsors Weil LLP, Guy Hulme from Nomura, author of the Jamie Johnson books Dan Freedman, and actress, author, and entrepreneur Jane Asher – all great supporters of Power2’s work.

On joining Power2’s Teens and Toddlers programme, these young people were in a similar boat to the other 25,000 who have been supported by the charity since 2001. All disengaged from school, all living in disadvantaged circumstances, and all with at least one ‘functioning need’, such as anger management, mental health issues, being very withdrawn or isolated, or with extra caring responsibilities.

A journey through life is very different for these young people. And, in 2020, they’ve been faced with a journey through one lockdown with virtual schooling in a global pandemic; a locked-down summer break; back to school; then onto another wave of lockdown – talk about needing to be resilient, adaptable, and accepting of change! This event offered a much-needed opportunity to stop and consider how much is asked of young people, and how much more of those who are already dealing with extra internal and external pressures every day.

“The biggest thing you need is what I got from Power2: confidence. Five years ago there’s no way I would have done any speaking at all,” Rahul, 19.

“Young people’s mental health is the absolute priority – without this they won’t be able to engage with their education,” Kemoy, Power2 and Moss Side Ambassador.

 “Young people should be able to be heard, and for that to happen they need to be listened to. Do people care when we talk?” Kieran, 14.

Such a crucial question from someone so young who has faced incredible tests in life already. For all of us who aspire to be leaders, in any field, it’s an important call out – how can we do a better job of actively listening and deriving value from a diverse range of perspectives and experiences? Do we listen to any young people? And, if we do, do we hear, do we care, do we act?

What the Look Back to the Future audience heard was seven articulate, strong voices that exposed insight, resilience, and strength, all the richer for the experiences and challenges they’ve had. And for their time with Power2. The messages for leaders of the future were compelling:

“We need role models, people leading with empathy and compassion, and an atmosphere where you can question things…Power2’s programmes are more like a conversation, a discussion – they make us think,” Amira, 25.

“Leaders should be the sort of people who connect to the people they want to lead,” Hafsah, 15.

“A good leader needs to be someone that doesn’t judge, someone we can count on and look up to,” Ashanti, 17.

For me, we can all benefit from giving greater respect to and taking greater inspiration from younger generations, learning from what they’re able to achieve in such challenging circumstances. I’m excited by the thought of what youth mayors, young influencers, and young trustees can help us to achieve by bringing energy, a fresh perspective, and unique networks to drive much-needed change.

We could all use some positive mutually beneficial relationship building, now more than ever, which makes the great work Power2 does resonate all the more. As Jane Asher said on hearing the young people’s panel discussion, ‘This makes it quite clear that Power2 works’. I’m so proud to be able to offer my help as a Power2 trustee. Please offer your support and subscribe here so we can share some of these fantastic young people’s voices with you.