· - PARTICIPATION – Having a Say The main aim of Shaidy Characters is to give a voice to young people. Having a Say is the third part of our motto. Service users provide a valuable perspective, shaped by knowledge of their own experience, ideas and opinions which helps to bring a fresh perspective. Genuine participation means seeking out, listening to and acting on the views and experience of service users and we include young people at all stages of planning, developing and reviewing our own as well as other local services.
SPEAKOUTThese two conferences held in 2004 and 2005 came about through the group’s involvement with Groundswell, a project born within the National Homeless Alliance (now Homeless Link) aiming to create a network of groups of homeless people who were engaged in self-help solutions to homelessness. Groundswell was instrumental in developing the Speakout technique. These events bring homeless people in direct dialogue with policy makers to use their experiences to inform and influence policy at local, regional and national level. Both events were well attended and thought to be very successful in breaking down barriers between young people and service providers and one result was the development of staff training as previously noted. The Speakout is now listed in the guidance of The Housing Act as one of the recommended techniques for consulting with homeless people. The conferences also had the effect of raising Shaidy Character’s profile not only locally but also across the region and with links to groups across the UK and led directly to their receiving national recognition through the Michael Whippman award, coordinated by Homeless Link.
NERYHN – North East Regional Youth Homeless Network Shaidy Characters have been actively involved in the formation of the North East Regional Youth Homeless Network, facilitated by Homeless Link. The network has two interlinking forums - one is made up of workers and service providers, the other young homeless people. NERYHN aims to provide a voice for young people; to influence strategy & thought; to promote innovation & best practice to bring about change. The network was established in 2006 and Shaidy Characters are one of the four core members of the young people’s forum who come together from across the northeast and campaign collectively on youth homelessness issues. In 2008 we have received funding to hold a third SPEAKOUT, a regional event in partnership with the other service user groups who make up the network. TPAS – Tenants Participation Advisory ServiceWe were approached by TPAS in 2006 to deliver a number of workshops across the country. The audience came from various housing organisations and the aim was to dispel some of the myths about youth homelessness. Once again feedback was very positive and it was a great opportunity for the young people to Drug and Alcohol Research with Investing in ChildrenShaidy Characters were asked work with Investing in Children in evaluating Drug and Alcohol Services for young people in Co. Durham. Along with other young people from Centrepoint Derwentside and Mo’s Army we met up at the Gala Theatre in Durham to give opinions on the services available and whether they were suitable, then we made a film to record what people had said, ion a Big Brother Diary format and also interviewed the manager of the DAAT (County Durham Drug and Alcohol Action Team). It is probably fair to say that the feedback was pretty negative! Some people didn’t even know that specialist services existed, and those that did thought they could be dramatically improved. The final piece was then shown (after much debate on its suitability!) in the autumn to the people who decide how the money on services should be spent. Smart JusticeIn 2006, Shaidy Characters got involved in the SmartJustice for Young People campaign. We had met Helen Attewell from SmartJustice, which is part of the Prison Reform Trust, at various community events. We were concerned at the number of young people with criminal record who were unable to get a house because of it, especially if they had been in prison. So we became an active member of the steering group and in the summer were chosen to work with local filmmaker, Emily Barber to make a short film about young people and the way they are portrayed in the news as anti-social thugs and troublemakers. The film, What Happens was finished that August and premiered at the Sage in Gateshead in from of a number of dignitaries including local MP Hilary Armstrong. At the event Shaidy Character Wendy Haswell gave a heartfelt speech about the making of the film, which met with resounding applause!
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Shaidy Projects 
