Responses from more than 280 frontline participation workers revealed three-quarters of them felt negative public attitudes prevented young people's involvement in service development. Two-thirds said other organisations didn’t give enough support and just over half thought that a lack of parental support was a barrier.
The amount of respect given to children’s involvement in decision-making was found to be lowest among the media and the general public. Over a third of the workers surveyed thought the media had no respect for participation, as did one-fifth of the public.
"It is crucial to involve children and young people in decisions that affect their lives, as this leads to more successful and efficient services," said Ross Hendry, director of policy at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England, which commissioned the report. "If young people feel they have a stake in the organisations and services they use, they will develop their ownership of those services, and in turn enhance their role and stake in wider society."
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