Mention children's participation to most people and you will probably bemet with a blank stare. But the principle is enshrined in the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child, which states that children have aright to express their views freely and have them taken into account inmatters that affect them.
Experts say that only recently has participation become a commonlyunderstood word. "Many people did participation before they gave it aname; it was called youth work, but now it is a designated skill in itsown right," says Lucy Read, a participation and development officer atchildren's charity the National Children's Bureau (NCB).
The Children Act 2004 has also signaled a shift in the way participationis practised. For instance, every local authority in England and Waleshad to draw up a children and young people's plan by 1 April setting outtheir services priorities - a process that had to involve meaningfulparticipation with local children and young people.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
