I want to ensure that participation is child friendly, with enough time, space and resources to ensure that children and young people feel confident to take part, whatever their support needs

Informed

1) AIM the Right Way

The Right Way, Scottish Youth Parliament

A checklist, with supporting information, for organisations to ensure they practice participation that protects, respects, and fulfils young people’s article 12 right to be heard. It is short, simple, and easy to use. Many of the points would also apply to working with younger children.

2) Meaningful Participation and Engagement of Children and Young People

Children in Scotland

A 14 page pdf about meaningful participation and engagement of children and young people. Useful for individuals looking to improve their practice when including children and young people in their work.

3) The right environment for a children’s human rights approach

Children’s Parliament

A list from families who shared their experiences of what makes the right environment for a good children’s human rights approach. They gave examples of things that had previously made them feel comfortable enough to share their views with workers.

4) Case study on embedding young people’s lived experience in public-sector audit

Audit Scotland and A Place in Childhood

Audit Scotland’s Youth Advisory Panel, supported by A Place in Childhood from 2023 to 2025, enabled young people to bring their lived experience into audits and briefings and influence work across Scotland’s public services. The approach strengthened organisational practice under the UNCRC and shows how organisations can resource sustained, child friendly participation rather than rely on one-off consultation.

Skilled

1) Children at the centre - Handbook on child participation practices from violence prevention projects across Europe

Daphne Child

This handbook brings together practical learning from child-participation work in violence-prevention projects across Europe. It supports practitioners to plan participation that is safe, inclusive and meaningful, select methods that respond to children’s needs, and create the conditions needed for children to influence decisions. The approaches can be adapted for use beyond violence-prevention work.

2) Can Scotland be Brave – Incorporating UNCRC Article 12 in practice

Scottish Government

Detailed information and resources from a Government funded project which investigated how well practitioners, across three different services, understood and implemented the full obligations of Article 12 of the UNCRC. Practitioners in education, health and a third sector organisation rated themselves using the Laura Lundy model of participation. They were then trained in a communication technique called Talking Mats©.

3) Starcatchers: Voice of the Baby: A Reflective Guide for the arts

Dr Rachel Drury and Dr Cara Blaisdell

An 18 page reflective guide which outlines a series of 5 areas for creative artists to consider in relation to a right-based approach in the arts. Aimed at creative artists working with babies and young children from birth to three. However, considerations can be tailored to other audiences.

4) Child Power: Growing Children’s Activism to End Child Poverty

Children's Parliament

Children’s Parliament’s Child Power project shows how children can be supported to understand their rights, organise with others and act as human rights defenders. Although the project focuses on child poverty, its approach offers transferable learning for practitioners creating spaces, relationships and support that enable children to influence policy and social change.

Enhanced

1) Participation framework: National framework for children and young people’s participation in decision-making

Rialtas na hÉireann/Government of Ireland

Developed by the Government of Ireland to support departments, agencies and organisations in a journey towards improving their practice in listening to children and young people and giving them a voice in decision-making. The implementation of the Framework must be informed and supported by an effective child safeguarding statement and processes.

2) Creating a play friendly community with children

Silvia Veiga-Seijo, Children Participants, Sarah Kantartzis and Jeanne Jackson. Queen Margaret University

A 53 page research report on participatory-ethnographic research, focused on creating a play-community with children. Created by a PhD student at Queen Margaret University. A useful example for academics and individuals interested in research with children.

3) Child-Centered Design

Save the Children

A practical guide for how to include children in service design. It has detailed ideas for what to consider during the preparation stage, working with children, and steps to take after working together. It also includes a breakdown of the service design process phases and methods, with ideas for activities that will help engage children.

This is a Scottish Government-funded project. This webpage, and the linked resources within it have not been produced by the Scottish Government and so the Scottish Government cannot guarantee their quality or accuracy. Nothing on this webpage and in its linked resources is intended to constitute legal advice. Readers should seek their own independent legal advice with respect to any legal matter.