Recently, we wanted to get their feedback on the joint meetings they have with ‘professionals’ – including teachers, social workers, health workers, and anyone else involved in their family life.

When we have been to these meetings with a young person, it can feel like they get lost in the noise. That they aren’t being included in decision making about how they are supported. It can often feel like we are passengers in the meetings, so I can only imagine how it feels for them.

So, in true Starting Point fashion, we ordered loads of pizza and fizzy drinks and held an evening at the Mentoring Hub in central Reading, UK to talk to them about how they would like these meetings to be. What would they find most helpful about the meetings? What would make them feel included?

It was a brilliant evening seeing young people come alive with the chance to share their opinion (and the pizza probably helped)!