Tate Dove, Author at Oxfordshire Youth https://oxfordshireyouth.org/author/tatedove/ Supporting young people to be the best they can be Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:01:24 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://oxfordshireyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-Fav-Icon-32x32.png Tate Dove, Author at Oxfordshire Youth https://oxfordshireyouth.org/author/tatedove/ 32 32 No more box ticking – We need Authentic Youth Voice Now! https://oxfordshireyouth.org/no-more-box-ticking-we-need-authentic-youth-voice-now/ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:01:23 +0000 https://oxfordshireyouth.org/?p=9480 Youth Voice and Participation is vital. Youth participation is also a fundamental human right. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states:

“Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.”

The post No more box ticking – We need Authentic Youth Voice Now! appeared first on Oxfordshire Youth.

]]>

Earlier this year, we launched the Young Voices of Oxfordshire Report after doing a brilliant and extensive research project with 5 young people who have been our incredible Youth Voice Champions.

These young people have dedicated their time to discovering how other young people across the county want to be heard. It all started in June 2025 after a successful recruitment drive, and kicked off the research in person at Didcot Youth Fest.

They wanted to create a conversation corner for young people instead of just giving them another survey to fill out. There were survey elements and also the space for art-based activities, which engaged young people further. This was a beneficial start to the process that saw many successes throughout:

Youth Voice is one of the most powerful vehicles for effective change, and this has been recognised in the Youth Matters, the national youth strategy. It is vital that we listen to, work with and co-produce with young people to find solutions that will help other young people. Youth voice is about recognising that young people have areas of expertise that professionals sometimes lack, and vice versa. When these collaborative efforts come together, powerful changes can be made! 

We are so proud of the work of the Youth Voice Champions and the team, but we are not done just yet…

We want you to help us shape the future of Youth Voice!

We are looking for more young people aged 14-25 to join the team to co-produce the official Youth Voice Strategy Oxfordshire. 

  • You will have the opportunity to lead the way in shaping how services for young people are actually run.
  • We will give you access to professional training, leadership experiences and a seat at the table with decision-makers.

We don’t want you to miss out on this creative, collaborative and impactful opportunity.

If you are a young person who is interested in this or know someone who is, sign up to become a youth voice champion to be part of the change you would like to see.

The post No more box ticking – We need Authentic Youth Voice Now! appeared first on Oxfordshire Youth.

]]> Our last thoughts of June: Men’s Mental Health https://oxfordshireyouth.org/our-last-thoughts-of-june-mens-mental-health/ Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:55:17 +0000 https://oxy.mediasitesvr1.co.uk/?p=7466 Men's mental health is a rising concern that we need to talk about.

The post Our last thoughts of June: Men’s Mental Health appeared first on Oxfordshire Youth.

]]>

Men face a lifetime of stigma and silence when it comes to mental health and struggling with mental health issues. Many men believe that they should be seen as only strong, independent, and tough… But why does this mean that they can’t suffer from poor mental health? 

  • Being strong is talking.
  • Being independent is working through the things that darken your mind, even if you need a helping hand to do so.
  • Being tough is having the strength to say, “I’m struggling,” and “I need help.“

None of these things make you less of a man.

We need to fight this stigma, allow men to talk, and actively work on making men feel comfortable enough to express themselves… 

Why?

  • Because 74% of ALL deaths by suicide in the UK are men.
  • Because only 36% of all NHS referrals for therapy are men.
  • Because men are 3x more likely to develop a dependence on substances.

Here at Oxfordshire Youth, we want to address these growing issues because men deserve to be in a world where they can talk, be heard, be seen, and get help for the things that they are struggling with.

1 in 8 men have a mental health disorder in the UK…

But how many actually seek support? 

Would the number increase if more men sought help?

We need to work together to lower the number of suicidal, substance-dependent, and silenced men.

We need to work together to increase the number of men seeking help.

Collectively as a society, we need to change these statistics, and here at Oxfordshire Youth, we want to do just that.

Please watch the video below, featuring some inspirational men from Oxfordshire Youth, as they discuss mental health, share their personal struggles, and explain why it is crucial to combat the stigma, stand in solidarity with men, and encourage them to seek support when needed.

Real men cry too….

The post Our last thoughts of June: Men’s Mental Health appeared first on Oxfordshire Youth.

]]>