Recruitment: Working closely with local partners and stakeholders in 4 South London boroughs (Lambeth, Lewisham, Croydon and Southwark), we recruit a team of passionate and forward-thinking young people to become ‘Young Advisors’ on the project. They bring a range of lived experience, including living and growing up in one of the 4 boroughs, facing economic hardship, vulnerable family circumstances, being impacted by racism or other forms of discrimination, and substance use or neurodiversity.

Co-production workshops: We support the Young Advisors to engage in a series of workshops across the year. These are focused on: evaluating the proposals to the programme, engaging with successful project teams, and informing the tender for an evaluation partner through co-developing questions for programme learning and evaluation. Other activities include a core group of Young Advisors directly presenting to the Board of Trustees for Maudsley Charity to inform their grant-making decisions on the programme.

Reflection workshop: The Young Advisors come together at the end of the project year to share their insights and reflections on the success of the project. Exploring strengths, areas to enhance and hopes for the future.

The success of the programme led to continued work with the Young Advisors and Maudsley Charity. They will continue to be involved in informing the remaining part of the BBF fund through informing various elements of the programme, including influencing learning and evaluation.