Built In Participation

Participation means: 'getting involved'. In government terms this means that 'All children, young people and families will be actively involved in the planning, delivery and monitoring of services'. Therefore all work with children and young people that enables them to take part can be defined as participation.

Participation activities cover:

• Consultation - Children and young people are asked their views. Adults make the decision but take children's and young people's views into account and give feedback about decisions and actions taken.
• Representation - Children and young people represent their peers' views on an adult-initiated issue. Again adults take views into account and give feedback about decisions and actions.
• Decision sharing - Children and young people share responsibility for decision making with adults.
• Implementation - Children and young people are given responsibility for a project and the outcomes. Staff support and monitor the progress.
• Initiating - Children and young people generate ideas for action and make all the major decisions. Adults are available for consultation, but do not take charge.

Consultation is one aspect of participation but does not constitute participation as a whole. Consultation with young people needs to be done correctly; this means ensuring that a wide range of young people take an active part and feeding back to the young people who have taken part.