"So that young people don't have to leave Swindon to have hope." - WAY Young Leader, 19
So what kind of change is WAY Changemakers making, then?
The WAY Changemakers are a diverse group of young people 12-25 with a range of experiences, passions and skillsets who seek to address the needs young people face and identify opportunities to drive lasting change in our communities.
“Here at WAY Changemakers we use youths ideas to make Swindon a better place for youth” Naomi, aged 13, Young Changemaker
Woah, cool. But how?
The ‘WAY’ way, that’s how!
Young people coming together to reimagine what lasting change in Swindon looks like taking action is where WAY began.
WAY’s Young Changemakers meet fortnightly to continually develop existing projects and, excitingly, lead on NEW projects in partnership with Swindon Borough Council, the police, and health organisations. Current projects include:
- Co-designing the activities of a youth centre in the process of redevelopment, opening in 2025!
- Creating a young person’s manifesto for change, calling on local organisations to take a young person first approach.
- Conducting research with a wider group of young people to understand their views, building their voice into local strategy.
But what do the WAY Changemakers actually DO?
We gather and train a group a of young people to become young leaders (Changemakers). These young leaders function as...
Young Researchers
Capturing the voices and views of a wider group of young people, using creative and meaningful methods. Intentionally seeking to reach those who are often underrepresented or go unheard.
Young Project Developers
Developing new projects and strategies and feeding into the development of existing activities based on the findings and feedback from the ongoing research.
Young Advisors
Providing ongoing governance and accountability to projects and partners, ensuring that local strategy stays responsive to the needs of young people.
What's the impact of this approach?
WAY’s young person-led approach co-produced:
- WAY Beacons – In partnership with The Great Western Hospital and Swindon’s Youth Justice Service.
- WAY Mentors – In partnership with Wiltshire OPCC, Swindon’s Youth Justice Service, EOTAS and SMASH.
The projects set up with young people have supported over 150 young people in the past year, enabling them to make lasting positive change in their lives.
Why not find out more?
