Children and Young Peoples Participation

1
Children and Young Peoples Participation
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WHY

• Services can be improved, representative
  democracy strengthened and children and young
  people gain new opportunities, skills and
  insights.
• Children and young people are members of or
  society and share the fundamental right to
  participate with every one else.
• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,
  specifically Article 12
• Every child who has a view has the right to
  express this view freely, in all matters
  affecting the child.
• The childs views must be given due weight
  depending on the childs age
• and maturity.
• The child has the right to be heard in all
  decision-making processes,
• including in court hearings. The child can either
  speak for her or himself, or
• someone else can put her or his views forward.

3
HOW

• Childrens Fund main principles prevention,
  partnership and participation
• Use this knowledge, experience, resources drive
  forward the agenda
• Resourced participation training programme for
  LSP partners to attend
• Local CYP planning groups developed their own
  charter of participation
• Involvement of CYP in the process developing
  their own version
• LSPs endorsement of the charters
• Development of a countywide CYP participation
  Strategy offering a co-ordinated approach to
  participation evolving through the CYP planning
  groups.
• Senior Leadership Team have agreed in principle
  the countywide strategy
• Implementation LSP participation workers

4
WHAT

• The Participation Strategy has four parts to it
• Charter setting out principles etc
• Self Assessment- attitudes, accessibility, shared
  values, resources etc most
• Action Plan who, when, how etc
• Toolkit- developed and produced by CYP supported
  by the LSP participation workers
• CYP are involved in the assessment, planning and
  monitoring.

5
WHEN

• LSPs to have endorsed locally by end of year
• Strategic level county wide by
• Implementation within LSP partner organisations
  via the participation workers