TAKING PARTicipation seriously
TAKING PARTicipation seriously is a resource for organisations who want practical advice about how to involve children and young people in activities, events and decision-making about issues that affect their lives.
The kit is made up of different parts that focus on how you can involve children and young people in different activities or areas of work. Schools, youth centres, youth clubs, welfare agencies, councils, businesses, churches and sporting bodies are just some of the organisations that will find this kit useful.
Children and young people helped us develop all sections of the kit, providing their ideas, experiences, feedback and piloting the resources before publication.
Sharing the stage
Sharing the Stage explores the idea of participation and looks at the five key elements that need to be in place for children and young people to participate effectively in decision-making. You’ll find lots of practical ideas and examples of what’s worked for other organisations. more …
All aBoard!
This guide looks at why and how organisations can involve children and young people on boards and committees. It has lots of information and tips about things like recruitment, roles and responsibilities, induction, supporting young people before and between meetings, making meetings fun, keeping young people interested, dealing with turnover and reviewing how things are working. All aBoard! also has practical templates for relevant forms and materials. more …
Count me in!
This guide looks at how organisations can involve children and young people in research. It has lots of information and tips on how to get children and young people participating in all stages of the research process, from defining the research question and developing a methodology to disseminating the findings. It also looks at the main principles and methods used to increase children and young people’s participation in research and contains practical examples of consent information and forms for children and young people. more …
Checking the scoreboard
Ever felt like it’s time to do a participation “stocktake”? This resource will help you get feedback from both staff and children and young people involved with your organisation about what’s working and where participation activities could be added to or improved. Made up of a facilitator’s guide and separate worksheets for staff and children and young people, this resource will help you come up with an action plan to breathe new life into your participation activities. more …
Conferences and events
This guide helps you run events that make space for children and young people’s participation. It has lots of ideas for helping kids play a meaningful role before, during and after events so that everyone benefits from their participation. There are stories from young people about their experiences and a big section of more than 90 activities and games you can use to help both you and the young people get the most out of their participation. more …
Meeting together–deciding together
Meeting together–deciding together is all about involving children and young people in meetings where decisions are made that affect their lives, such as case-planning meetings. This module will help you to help a young person prepare for a meeting, participate during the meeting and debrief afterwards. It has ‘kid-friendly’ templates you can use for invitations, agendas and minutes and lots of other useful information. more …
Sharing our journey
This module charts the 'learning road' travelled by the Commission from the Participation Kit's beginnings six years ago. Together with the views of children and young people, the module discusses the success and challenges of children's participation, why it works and is good for kids, and how organisations benefit when they promote and practice participation. more …
Useful research and resources about participation
If you would like more information about participation, follow this link for a useful list of websites, books and articles, participation models and toolkits.
