cawt outcomes for children project developing a children and young people’s engagement action plan...
TRANSCRIPT
CAWTOutcomes for children project
Developing a children and young people’s engagement action plan
Thursday 20 January, 2011
Paula KeenanStrategic & Operational Advisor
Setting the scene
• Children and young people’s engagement strategy
• Today is about using your expertise and pooling your experience to develop an action plan
• A little input – a lot of working together
The Participation ‘Pie’
NICCYNI Youth Forum
Save the ChildrenPlayboard
Education and Library Board Youth groupsVOYPIC
Include YouthYouthnet
Early YearsChildren Services Planning Forums
Sixth Sense
… supports statutory agencies, local government and government departments in Northern Ireland to fulfil their duties to effectively engage children and young people in public decision making’
Consultancy
Training
Signposting
Resources
‘What we offer’
What is ‘children and young people’s participation in public decision making’?
Participation vs consultation
Consultation: asking children and young people directly about their views
Participation: children and young people sharing ideas, thinking for themselves, expressing their views effectively, planning, prioritising and being involved in the decision making process
Consultation is good ……….but participation is better!
Looking back…
• Try to remember a time from your childhood when the adults in your life were making an important decision
• Talk to the person beside you about:– Were you involved in the decision in any way?– How did you feel about being involved or not
being involved?
Why engage?
The UNCRC
“that luminous document that enshrines the rights of every child without exception to a life of dignity and self-fulfilment”
Nelson Mandela 2000
Article 12
“States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.”
Article 12, United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child
Direct engagement? “When young people deliver the
message themselves, people pay more attention.”
(Community Project)
“If you want young people to be interested in community and politics,
you have to treat them with equal regard and respect as adults. To
involve them is to show the constructive role of politics.”
(MLA)
“We get institutionalized, we work within versus challenge the system. Young people are creative in terms
of how they approach issues.” (MLA)
“See young people as helping develop transport rather than see
them as people who vandalize buses.” (Department Official)
“The Program for Government talks about sustainability. The best way to do that is invest in your children and
young people.”(MLA)
“As a direct result of the involvement of young people, there has been a
reduction in age and religious barriers within our organisation.”
(District Councillor)
The benefits of engagement
Policies and services will be more relevant and more effective
Because:•They will be informed by experts – ‘insider information’
•They will address needs identified by those living with the situation you’re trying to improve
•You will have had a chance to test out ideas, be alerted to flaws an adults wouldn’t spot, get fresh ideas
You comply with requirements – children andyoung people develop citizenship skills, counter feelings of isolation / lack of belonging
WIN – WIN
ASK FIRST StandardsAppropriate methodsSupportKnowledge
FeedbackInclusionRespectSenior People Timing
Current engagements
• Public Health Agency
• DoE Road Safety Strategy
• NI Court Service – Translation services
• DEL Committee – Service provision for those Not in Employment, Education or Training
Three steps to action
WHOWhat categories of children and young people do you need to engage e.g. age, experience, background etc.
WHATWhat information do you need? e.g. views, opinions, ideas, experiences etc.
HOWWhat methods will you use to get information? e.g. surveys, new technologies, workshops etc.
Who?
• In your group divide a flip-chart in half
• On one side, record all the categories of children and young people you need to engage with
• On the other list where you can access those children and young people e.g. local organisations
What?
• On the flip-chart record what you need to know from children and young people
• Where possible write specific questions
How?Bearing in mind…
– Who you need to engage with – What agencies / organisations might help you access
children and young people – What you most need to know
List a series of actions that describe how you will get the information you need
e.g. Host a workshop with young people from XXX group to explore what they feel are the barriers to them going to school
Next Steps