At Surrey Docks Farm we believe young people are important assets to our organisation. We work closely with young people to make their experiences here worthwhile, enabling them to become active and happy members of their local community. We support young people to make decisions that shape their lives, experience new opportunities and share and reflect on their experiences at the Farm.

Our Youth Committee is made up of local young people from our informal educational programmes. Meeting on a monthly basis, the committee guides the decision making processes involved in the shaping of the youth services at the Farm, including the Youth Clubs and the Youth Volunteering programme. Members of the Committee draw on their own experiences of engaging in the Farm’s programmes, champion the needs of young people, make decisions about the youth engagement at the Farm and in the wider community.

Having the voice of young people at the heart of the Farm’s decision making processes means we are best placed to respond to the needs and serve the young people in Southwark and beyond. The Youth Committee discusses improvements and developments to our services with the Farm’s Management Committee throughout the year.

At the Farm we believe that leadership qualities include being creative, thoughtful, respectful and community minded. We value the ideas, ethics and passions of young people and want to support the best ideas coming to life through the Youth Committee.

Equal Opportunities Statement (written by the Youth Committee members)

At the Farm we believe that:

• People will be accepted how they are

• People are entitled to their own beliefs, opinions and point of view

• Peoples differences should be celebrated

• Peoples’ diversity is something to embrace 

• People will be respected and treated how they deserve to be treated

• Giving people a voice and bringing people together for a common cause will uphold a sense of unity

• Everybody has a right to an equal future

• People have the same rights

• People will be treated with respect and a positive mindset