Bulletin

Our own childhood can help us understand young people, but it should not become the standard we measure them against. Before saying, “When I was your age,” we should ask whether our experience will help them feel understood or make them feel compared. Young people do not need us to have every answer. They need us to listen, remain open and recognise that their world may be different from the one we remember. Our past can guide the conversation. It should not speak louder t

An upcoming open discussion about whether the support offered to young people has kept pace with the lives they are now living Event date to be announced Bullying is not new. Neither are friendship problems, low confidence, peer pressure, worries about appearance or the need to belong. We experienced many of these things ourselves, so it can be tempting to believe we already understand them. But do we? The emotional needs of young people may be familiar, but the environment s

Sometimes it helps to talk while doing something else, such as walking, cooking, travelling or watching television. Sitting directly opposite a young person and repeatedly asking questions can feel like an interview. A conversation might begin with an observation: “People your age seem to have a lot more pressure now than when I was younger. “Social media must be difficult sometimes. You never really get a break from everybody.” “I remember finding friendships confusing at yo