Roots to Change artwork

Roots to Change

13 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1 rating

The Roots to Change podcast is hosted by Donya Lamrhari, Systems Change Lead at the Children's Society (https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/), a national children's charity. Our goal is to overturn the damaging decline in children's wellbeing by 2030 and we know that to do this systemic change is needed.
The Children's Society defines Systems Change as a process of working collaboratively with people to understand and address the root causes of disadvantage for young people; an approach to redesigning and influencing the people, processes, rules, power and structures that make up systems, to achieve positive change.
This podcast aims to make Systems Change accessible, by interviewing inspiring professionals and young people in the community and sharing their stories of change.

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Episodes

The Young Changemakers Movement

January 30, 2024 13:25 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MB

In this episode, I interview two incredibly self-aware, compassionate and driven young people Ashleigh & SJ  who participated in the Young Changemakers programme, a collaboration between UK Youth, Centre for Mental Health and Diana Award. We talk about what systems change means to them, their experiences of racial inequality in the mental health and education systems and they discuss their social action projects 'Team Not So Micro' and 'Team Change'. Trigger Warning: this episode contain...

Intersectionality: Exploring our Identity

June 22, 2023 13:15 - 51 minutes - 31.8 MB

In this episode, I interview a stand-out leader Craig Pinkney, criminologist, youth specialist and chief executive of SOLVE, the center for youth violence & conflict (https://solvecyvc.com/home).  We talk about his journey into youth work, why self-exploration is so important for systems change and what it means to be anti-racist.  Trigger Warning: this episode contains reference to violence. If you are affected by any of the issues raised, please check out the link below for further sup...

Part 2 YLCSC What do we stand for in the UK?

March 15, 2023 11:28 - 33 minutes - 25.9 MB

Part 2 This is a 2 part episode, featuring an inspirational group of young people known as the Youth Led Commission on Separated Children (YLCSC) and Hilda, Youth Led Campaigns officer at the Children's Society.  They are campaigning for all unaccompanied young refugees, who arrive in the UK alone to get a legal guardian. In these episodes we hear from Phoenix, Ayo, ibrahim, TJ and Ope and it features the song 'Human Kindness' by singer, songwriter Carrie Tree https://carrietree.bandca...

Part 1 YLCSC 'They see you as a document, they don't see you as a human'

March 15, 2023 10:58 - 21 minutes - 16.5 MB

Part 1 This is a 2 part episode, featuring an inspirational group of young people known as the Youth Led Commission on Separated Children (YLCSC) and Hilda, Youth Led Campaigns officer at the Children's Society.  They are campaigning for all unaccompanied young refugees, who arrive in the UK alone to get a legal guardian. In these episodes we hear from Phoenix, Ayo, ibrahim, TJ and Ope and it features the song 'Human Kindness' by singer, songwriter Carrie Tree https://carrietree.bandca...

Cultural Competency and Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw

March 02, 2023 10:37 - 31 minutes - 24 MB

In this episode I interview Ghino Parker, Centre director at Barnardo's who has worked across many communities to ensure that diverse voices are heard. In this episode we talk about: Systems Change as 'common sense youth work' Kimberle Crenshaw's movement around intersectionality Cultural competency crucial for Systems Change Real life examples of applying cultural competency Resources: Kimberle Crenshaw TED talk intersectionality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOe5-UsQ2o Ghi...

The impact of COVID-19 on children and families

May 04, 2020 11:53 - 24 minutes - 34 MB

In this special episode of Talking Change we ask how the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown is impacting the mental health and well-being of children and young people and what the longer term implications might be. We also discuss how migrant families subject to 'no recourse to public funds' are being particularly badly affected, and what can be done to help. 

That awkward age - pt. II

June 05, 2019 13:14 - 16 minutes - 22.9 MB

This episode is part II of our focus on the unique challenges faced by vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds as they navigate the often tricky transition to adulthood.  This was recorded live from an event in Parliament where 13 organisations came together to launch a new report, Transitions into Adulthood. You’ll hear from some of the speakers at that event, and in particular, from young people who attended because they wanted to share their own stories with politicians.   

That awkward age

May 04, 2019 08:48 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MB

In this episode, we’re talking about that awkward age between childhood and adulthood. For vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds this can be especially awkward, as support they receive from services will often drop away once they turn 18. The issues that 16 and 17 year olds face – such as mental ill health, poverty and homelessness – are rarely experienced in isolation. A group of organisations that support teenagers dealing with complex problems in their lives, have come together to call on th...

Where would you turn in a crisis?

April 05, 2019 09:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MB

In this month's episode of Talking Change, we explore what financial crisis looks like for families and young people.  For families in crisis, emergency funding from councils allows them to buy food, pay utility bills and keep their children safe. This support provides a vital safety net when the worst happens. But in many areas, this safety net is at real risk of disintegrating. For 1 in 7 councils, it has already disappeared.  Our Strengthening the Safety Net campaign is calling on co...

A fairer start for care leavers

March 04, 2019 09:51 - 15 minutes - 21.4 MB

For the last couple of years, The Children’s Society has been running a highly successful local campaign asking councils to make young people who have left care exempt from paying council tax up to the age of 25.  The campaign represents a fantastic example of how widespread, tangible change can be achieved by going local. Tens of thousands of care leavers are now exempt from paying council tax, helping to give them a few years of financial stability at a critical moment in their lives. In...

Young people's mental health

February 04, 2019 15:11 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MB

For young people struggling with their mental health, getting help can be hard. Long waiting times, strict criteria for access, and real uncertainty once you turn 18 are just some of the obstacles you can face in a system seriously failing to meet the level of need. The Government has recently unveiled a bold and ambitious set of reforms which they promise will transform the way that we approach children and young people’s mental health in this country. But does it stack up?  In this epi...

NRPF: No Recourse to Public Funds

December 11, 2018 15:30 - 29 minutes - 40.8 MB

I investigate the daily struggle faced by families subject to No Recourse to Public Funds, a condition of their immigration status that prevents them from accessing any benefits or welfare support. When these families fall into poverty, they are confronted with a unique set of challenges which can be extremely difficult to overcome. The consequences, particularly for children, can be devastating. I am joined in this episode by: Rupinder Parhar - Policy Officer, Children's Society A si...

Child criminal exploitation and 'County Lines'

October 22, 2018 08:47 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MB

This first episode explores the phenomenon of child criminal exploitation, in particular, children who have been exploited into selling drugs through so-called 'County Lines'. In conversation with three guests, I try to unpick just what 'County Lines' is, what it means for the young people caught up in it, and what can be done to tackle it. I am joined in the episode by:  Sarah Hegarty - Service Manager, The Children's Society Will Quince - MP for Colchester Tim Champion - National Po...