ABOUT US
A HOME FOR YOUNG CHANGEMAKERS
WHY WE EXIST
As pressures mount and socioeconomic conditions worsen, it's far too easy to blame a new generation for a presumed lack of interest in civic life, or to dismiss their anger as unreasonable. As citizens, we must recognise that it is we and traditional institutions that have failed to modernise and seek the engagement of young people.
Government data (DCMS) from 2020/21 found that only 6% of 16-24 year olds are engaged in any civic or political activism. In the decade preceding this survey (2009-2019) UK youth services were cut by over £400m resulting in the closure of more than 760 youth centres since 2012. Furthermore, the 2010 coalition government’s review of the national curriculum removed ‘skills and practice’ from citizenship education in schools, and defunded the training of teachers in the subject. In a 2018 review by the House of Lords, it was declared that citizenship education in England had been allowed to “degrade to a parlous state”.
Despite this dearth of investment, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that young people are more engaged in social issues, and, more importantly, are ready to act and make choices around their values. Young people simply lack the infrastructure and support to do so. We have been shown time and time again that the arc of history is bent towards justice through the passion, integrity and hopes of young people. Young changemakers have been the catalyst of almost every major social, political and economic change.
If we want the next generation to fix, not just inherit the turmoil left for them, we need to invest in their civic participation. And then, frankly, we need to get out of their way.
As pressures mount and socioeconomic conditions worsen, it's far too easy to blame a new generation for a presumed lack of interest in civic life, or to dismiss their anger as unreasonable. As citizens, we must recognise that it is we and traditional institutions that have failed to modernise and seek the engagement of young people. Government data (DCMS) from 2020/21 found that only 6% of 16-24 year olds are engaged in any civic or political activism. In the decade preceding this survey (2009-2019) UK youth services were cut by over £400m resulting in the closure of more than 760 youth centres since 2012. Furthermore, the 2010 coalition government’s review of the national curriculum removed ‘skills and practice’ from citizenship education in schools, and defunded the training of teachers in the subject. In a 2018 review by the House of Lords, it was declared that citizenship education in England had been allowed to “degrade to a parlous state”. Despite this dearth of investment, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that young people are more engaged in social issues, and, more importantly, are ready to act and make choices around their values. Young people simply lack the infrastructure and support to do so. We have been shown time and time again that the arc of history is bent towards justice through the passion, integrity and hopes of young people. Young changemakers have been the catalyst of almost every major social, political and economic change. If we want the next generation to fix, not just inherit the turmoil left for them, we need to invest in their civic participation. And then, frankly, we need to get out of their way.
WHY WE EXIST
As pressures mount and socioeconomic conditions worsen, it's far too easy to blame a new generation for a presumed lack of interest in civic life, or to dismiss their anger as unreasonable. As citizens, we must recognise that it is we and traditional institutions that have failed to modernise and seek the engagement of young people.
Government data (DCMS) from 2020/21 found that only 6% of 16-24 year olds are engaged in any civic or political activism. In the decade preceding this survey (2009-2019) UK youth services were cut by over £400m resulting in the closure of more than 760 youth centres since 2012. Furthermore, the 2010 coalition government’s review of the national curriculum removed ‘skills and practice’ from citizenship education in schools, and defunded the training of teachers in the subject. In a 2018 review by the House of Lords, it was declared that citizenship education in England had been allowed to “degrade to a parlous state”.
Despite this dearth of investment, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that young people are more engaged in social issues, and, more importantly, are ready to act and make choices around their values. Young people simply lack the infrastructure and support to do so. We have been shown time and time again that the arc of history is bent towards justice through the passion, integrity and hopes of young people. Young changemakers have been the catalyst of almost every major social, political and economic change.
If we want the next generation to fix, not just inherit the turmoil left for them, we need to invest in their civic participation. And then, frankly, we need to get out of their way.
What we do
Our work to date has focused on three core programmes: the Fellowship Programme (a six-month immersive course into organising and civic engagement), Spark Programme (a 5-day introduction to the basics of organising for change), and the Change-maker Development Programme (training which supports our Members to develop youth work and facilitation skills).
In just eight years, we have developed the most well respected youth activist training programme in the country, housing eight active cohorts of young members, dozens of successful campaigning groups and a community of over 200 young people. The campaigns our young people have developed are having a real and lasting impact at borough, city and national levels. We have built a broad-based alliance of over 400 partner organisations and individual campaigners, both locally and nationally. Our work at The Advocacy Academy is focused on the development of young people’s campaigning work, helping them build campaigns that shake the nation, and supporting their growth through an advocacy membership model.
As we grow, we remain rooted in our home borough of Lambeth where we have built deep, and purposeful relationships across South London. Through the opening of Marhaba Space and the hiring out of our space (using a solidarity scale), we further provide a vital space for community groups and young people to organise in the heart of Brixton. We are proud to be bringing together young people and local civic leaders in the heart of Brixton, continuously rooting our work in community and solidarity.
Our work to date has focused on three core programmes: the Fellowship Programme (a six-month immersive course into organising and civic engagement), Spark Programme (a 5-day introduction to the basics of organising for change), and the Change-maker Development Programme (training which supports our Members to develop youth work and facilitation skills). In just eight years, we have developed the most well respected youth activist training programme in the country, housing eight active cohorts of young members, dozens of successful campaigning groups and a community of over 200 young people. The campaigns our young people have developed are having a real and lasting impact at borough, city and national levels. We have built a broad-based alliance of over 400 partner organisations and individual campaigners, both locally and nationally. Our work at The Advocacy Academy is focused on the development of young people’s campaigning work, helping them build campaigns that shake the nation, and supporting their growth through an advocacy membership model. As we grow, we remain rooted in our home borough of Lambeth where we have built deep, and purposeful relationships across South London. Through the opening of Marhaba Space and the hiring out of our space (using a solidarity scale), we further provide a vital space for community groups and young people to organise in the heart of Brixton. We are proud to be bringing together young people and local civic leaders in the heart of Brixton, continuously rooting our work in community and solidarity.
WHO WE ARE
The Advocacy Academy are youth organisers working to create a more fair, just, and equal society, by building the collective power of young people to bring about change. We train young people with lived experience of injustice to achieve long-term systemic change for themselves and the communities they live in. We combine formal instruction in social and economic systems, practical training in community organising, with the heart and soul of radical youth work. We equip young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become active agents for change in the community.
The Advocacy Academy are youth organisers working to create a more fair, just, and equal society, by building the collective power of young people to bring about change. We train young people with lived experience of injustice to achieve long-term systemic change for themselves and the communities they live in. We combine formal instruction in social and economic systems, practical training in community organising, with the heart and soul of radical youth work. We equip young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become active agents for change in the community.
WHO WE ARE
The Advocacy Academy are youth organisers working to create a more fair, just, and equal society, by building the collective power of young people to bring about change. We train young people with lived experience of injustice to achieve long-term systemic change for themselves and the communities they live in. We combine formal instruction in social and economic systems, practical training in community organising, with the heart and soul of radical youth work. We equip young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become active agents for change in the community.
WHERE WE ARE GOING
OUR VISION
We have developed a reputation over the past eight years of being thought leaders in the development of youth organising practice and campaigning know-how, with a track record of supporting young people to develop campaigns that have a real, national impact.
Excellent youth work exists across the country. Our aim over the coming years is to both amplify it, and, to create the infrastructure needed to support ongoing training, development and collaboration through a national network of youth organisations committed to systemic change in their communities. We want to open up our training methodology to as many allies as possible, enabling young people to gain the skills and experience and access to campaigning experience and expertise whether they grew up in a village in East Anglia, flats in Glasgow, or down the road from us in Brixton.
We have developed a reputation over the past eight years of being thought leaders in the development of youth organising practice and campaigning know-how, with a track record of supporting young people to develop campaigns that have a real, national impact. Excellent youth work exists across the country. Our aim over the coming years is to both amplify it, and, to create the infrastructure needed to support ongoing training, development and collaboration through a national network of youth organisations committed to systemic change in their communities. We want to open up our training methodology to as many allies as possible, enabling young people to gain the skills and experience and access to campaigning experience and expertise whether they grew up in a village in East Anglia, flats in Glasgow, or down the road from us in Brixton.
our GUIDING COMPASS
WHAT IS OUR GOAL?
OUR GOAL
We have developed a reputation over the past eight years of being thought leaders in the development of youth organising practice and campaigning know-how, with a track record of supporting young people to develop campaigns that have a real, national impact.
Excellent youth work exists across the country. Our aim over the coming years is to both amplify it, and, to create the infrastructure needed to support ongoing training, development and collaboration through a national network of youth organisations committed to systemic change in their communities.
We want to open up our training methodology to as many allies as possible, enabling young people to gain the skills and experience and access to campaigning experience and expertise whether they grew up in a village in East Anglia, flats in Glasgow, or down the road from us in Brixton.
We have developed a reputation over the past eight years of being thought leaders in the development of youth organising practice and campaigning know-how, with a track record of supporting young people to develop campaigns that have a real, national impact. Excellent youth work exists across the country. Our aim over the coming years is to both amplify it, and, to create the infrastructure needed to support ongoing training, development and collaboration through a national network of youth organisations committed to systemic change in their communities. We want to open up our training methodology to as many allies as possible, enabling young people to gain the skills and experience and access to campaigning experience and expertise whether they grew up in a village in East Anglia, flats in Glasgow, or down the road from us in Brixton.
WHAT DOES TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE MEAN TO US?
What is Transformative Justice?
Transformative Justice (TJ) is a radical approach to justice; one that seeks to grasp at the root of interpersonal harm. The four core principles of Transformative Justice that aligns with our values at The Advocacy Academy are: an emphasis on community and relationships - resists individualising harm or resolution; courageous spaces - often, incidences of harm involve multiple, nuanced, and conflicting harms but TJ requires this complexity is held and moved through; values over processes - primarily, TJ seeks to do no more harm; and transparency - TJ is messy and complicated, and mistakes will be made. In a complex and imperfect process, transparency is crucial for building trust, strengthening the community, and a sense of procedural fairness.
Transformative Justice requires making space for the voices of those affected and promotes meeting the needs of all involved to strengthen and transform the community so that they can learn from what happened and it is less likely to occur again. It also emphasises community accountability, acknowledging the role that cultural norms of an organisation play in interpersonal harm between community members. So long as wider systems of oppression exist, a utopian safe space cannot exist.
At The Advocacy Academy, we aim to always strive for a safer, courageous space, and this means holding and moving through complexity and conflict. In a complex and imperfect process, transparency is crucial for building trust, strengthening the community, and a sense of procedural fairness.
Transformative Justice (TJ) is a radical approach to justice; one that seeks to grasp at the root of interpersonal harm. The four core principles of Transformative Justice that aligns with our values at The Advocacy Academy are: an emphasis on community and relationships - resists individualising harm or resolution; courageous spaces - often, incidences of harm involve multiple, nuanced, and conflicting harms but TJ requires this complexity is held and moved through; values over processes - primarily, TJ seeks to do no more harm; and transparency - TJ is messy and complicated, and mistakes will be made. In a complex and imperfect process, transparency is crucial for building trust, strengthening the community, and a sense of procedural fairness. Transformative Justice requires making space for the voices of those affected and promotes meeting the needs of all involved to strengthen and transform the community so that they can learn from what happened and it is less likely to occur again. It also emphasises community accountability, acknowledging the role that cultural norms of an organisation play in interpersonal harm between community members. So long as wider systems of oppression exist, a utopian safe space cannot exist. At The Advocacy Academy, we aim to always strive for a safer, courageous space, and this means holding and moving through complexity and conflict. In a complex and imperfect process, transparency is crucial for building trust, strengthening the community, and a sense of procedural fairness.
Radical Hope
We believe in the potential for other people to grow and to surprise us. We assume the best intentions with those we interact with, and centre transformative practice - boundaries, agency, and assuming goodwill.
Creativity
We work with others whenever appropriate and possible. Not all organisations work the way that we do and this is a benefit. We welcome their creative approaches and allow it to enrich our work!
Bravery & Boldness
We have and host brave conversations with our colleagues. This could include acting in solidarity with communities we champion, leaning into discomfort to confirm understanding.
Curiosity
We desire to explore and/or acknowledge any assumptions we hold with the people we work with. We recognise the narratives we create about others.
Clarity & Openness
We share our resources beyond our walls where compliance allows us to. We break down silos between organisations. We are open on where we can and cannot provide clarity around certain issues and commit to providing more if we are able.
Joy & Celebration
We centre joy and celebration is an integral part of our values and should be considered as decisions are made. It’s not just about the work - you can work and laugh together!
Care & Kindness
We assume that people interact with us in the kindest way that they are able to at the time, and we endeavour to show up in the kindest way we are able to at the time too.
Purposeful
We treat our relationships with patience and deliberation. We recognise that relationships are rooted in trust, and that choosing to trust people makes them trustworthy.
Being Our Word
We treat our relationships with care and honour the commitments we make to those we are in community with. We commit daily to being courageous and authentic to our word in the small acts as well as the big decisions
Magic in the detail
We treat our relationships with care and honour the commitments we make to those we are in community with. We recognise that small moments matter in relationships, and that it’s worth investing in our relationships with community members one small act at a time.
OUR VALUES
