Participation Works publish new guide for involving children and young people in formal meetings
Participation Works is pleased to announce the launch of its new guide, ‘Children and young people’s involvement in formal meetings: a practical guide’
This guide has been developed to help those who want to more effectively include children and young people in their adult-led meetings. It explores the ways in which children and young people can make a real and lasting contribution to a wide range of formal decision-making meetings. It was developed with the help of children, young people and adults who work in the field of engaging children and young people in formal meeting.
The guide uses current case studies of good practice in the effective engagement of children and young people in formal meetings. It provides practical examples of what helps during meetings and gives detailed advice on planning for those meetings, on supporting children and young people and on making the most of their energy and imagination. Other useful sources of information are also signposted.
The guide is primarily aimed at all those responsible for organising and/or administering formal decision-making meetings. It offers some advice to those adults, who chair these meetings as well. Typically, these are meetings within local councils, local strategic partnerships, large voluntary organisations, health agencies or other formal settings. The aim is to ensure that children and young people are effectively involved in these meetings, that their contribution is valued and that they genuinely inform the plans and actions which emerge.
The guide can be downloaded for free from the Participation Works Gateway. If you are at the start of your participation journey and, for example, have not yet engaged children and young people in your area of work we have developed Children and young people’s involvement in formal meeting: an extended guide with more detail.
We are also looking for organisations to pilot the guide in their formal meetings with children and young people from September to January 2011. If you want to take part you will received a free copy of the guide, some free consultancy from our company secretariat and a participation engagement expert, and a free presentation led by young people for you to give to members of your meeting explaining how to best use the guide.
For more information please contact Janine Young at 0207 843 6092 or at jyoung@ncb.org.uk.
Source: www.participationworks.org.uk
