WeShare will look beyond the headlines and statistics to explore the issues shaping young people’s lives and bring their experiences into the national conversation.
WeMindTheGap has launched WeShare, a new monthly insight series examining the challenges and opportunities facing young people today.
Drawing on the charity’s work alongside young people, families, employers and communities across North Wales and North West England, WeShare will explore what national headlines, policies and statistics mean for young people at a local and personal level.
Young people are regularly discussed in reports, political debates and news stories about education, employment, skills, social mobility, mental health and opportunity. However, WeMindTheGap believes their lived experiences are too often missing from these conversations.
Each monthly edition of WeShare will examine a topical issue affecting young people, combining evidence with the insight the charity gains from working directly with young people and the people and organisations around them.
The series aims to amplify young people’s voices, identify gaps in support and highlight positive action already being taken. It will also encourage employers, educators, policymakers, practitioners and community leaders to consider what more they can do to improve young people’s opportunities.
Ali Wheeler, CEO of WeMindTheGap, said:
“One of WeMindTheGap’s greatest strengths is the unique perspective we gain from walking alongside young people across North Wales and North West England.
We see first-hand both the challenges they face and the difference that the right support, opportunity or intervention can make. That brings a responsibility to amplify young people’s voices and share what we learn with the organisations, policymakers and communities that can help create change.
Young people’s futures should not depend on where they are born or live. Through WeShare, we want to look beyond the headlines, bring their experiences into the conversation and encourage everyone to recognise the part they can play.”
WeShare will explore issues including education, employment, skills, mental health, wellbeing, belonging and access to opportunity.
It will also share examples of effective practice and celebrate the employers, organisations and communities working to improve outcomes for young people.
Edward Greening, Head of Impact and Insight at WeMindTheGap, said:
“WeShare is rooted in what we see, hear and learn every day through our work with young people, employers, communities and partners.
Our aim is to bring together the human stories behind the statistics, identify emerging challenges and share insight that can help inform better decisions.
Data alone does not create change. But when it is combined with lived experience, open discussion and collective action, it can help us understand what is needed and improve outcomes for young people.”
WeMindTheGap hopes WeShare will become a valuable source of insight for anyone with an interest in young people’s futures, while helping young people feel seen, heard and understood.
The charity is encouraging young people, parents, carers, employers, educators, policymakers and community organisations to read and share the series and join the wider conversation.
Because the most important question is not simply what the latest statistics tell us about young people. It is what we are prepared to do about them.
Read the first edition of WeShare here: