The Youth Advisory Board or YAB has become a key part of St Basils’ governance and development structures and has helped us to connect with the young people we work with in a meaningful and challenging way.
The young people who use our services have a unique perspective which cannot be found elsewhere. Their ideas, commitment and energy can help improve the services we offer and the YAB helps us to tap into that expertise.
The YAB is a separate board for young people who currently use our services. It is not a shadow board or a junior version of the management board, it has its own functions and tasks that we feel adds a new dimension to the overall governance of the organisation.
The YAB has direct and formal links to the management board and to the management structure within St Basils, it has a dedicated worker who supports and works with the YAB members.
The YAB is one part of the range of options we use to consult with, listen to and learn from young people.
The YAB has been in operation since the beginning of 2004. It has 15 young people on the board at any one time and each of them has a specific area or portfolio of interest that they develop and work on for the YAB.
To date there have always been more young people wanting to serve on the YAB than there have been places for them to occupy. We feel this is a good indicator that we are getting something right.
