The following section lists a number of organisations, publications and contacts that will act as useful support aids when thinking through how to start and develop your children and young people’s involvement activity.

This is an evolving list of services and we welcome your help in making this as complete and useful as possible for everyone who refers to it. Your suggestions, both in terms of other sources that should be included, and also the quality of what is here already, would be much appreciated.

Good practice examples of children and young people’s involvement

The following table lists a number of good practice examples of children and young people’s involvement that are already taking place across the Council. We have listed a contact for each of these groups to act as a source of information and guidance around their particular activity.

Good practice examples
Group Activity Contact
Olympic Youth Ambassadors A group of young people who voice their opinions, support and challenge the Council on its 2012 plans, and encourage other young people from Waltham Forest to get involved in the Olympics Maddelyn Sutton
Olympics Communication and Consultation Officer
Tel 020 8496 3691
Young Advisors A group of young people aged between 15 and 21, who work with decision makers to make sure young people are involved in all decisions that affect them Leroy Harley
Strategy Leader Involvement & Progression
Tel 020 8496 1526
Rollin-G A group of young people skilled in working with community groups to mediate conflict and facilitate debate Aron Jervis
Leader
Email aron.j@rollin-g.com
StreetLife FM A community based radio station managed and run entirely by young people Stanton LaFoucade
Youth Involvement Manager
Tel 020 8556 7188
In Our Shoes Group A group of young people who give adults, staff and members the opportunity to ‘step into the shoes’ of young people through training sessions and seminars Lyndsey Buchanan
Youth Consultation and Participation Officer
Tel 020 8496 4178
Step2Step Group A pioneering group of young people and adults who wor in partnership to audit service delivery for young people in the Council. Linda Cointepas
Group Manager, Children and Families
Tel 020 8496 2763
Flava Press Gang A group of young journalists who manage and develop the Forest Flava website (www.forestflava.org.uk) Lyndsey Buchanan
Youth Consultation and Participation Officer
Tel 020 8496 4178
Specialist Children Services A group of young people at the 92 Leyton Green Road centre who speak up for the rights of children and young people with disabilities, and give advice on their involvement in decision-making Barry Goldsmith
Team Manager, Disabled Children Day Care
Tel 020 8496 1421
Joint School Councils for primary and secondary A group of students from the borough who come together to discuss issues which are then fed back into senior decision-making bodies within the Council Suzanne Elwick
Group Manager, Policy
Tel 020 8496 3683
Children’s Rights (Looked After Children Group) A group of children in care who act as young consultants on issues of recruitment, training and general involvement for other young people in care Kate Gledhill
Children’s Rights Officer
Tel 020 8509 3432

Direct support from young people

Young Advisors is a national scheme that develops the potential of young people to interact with decision-makers and have an impact on decision-making.

Children Services, in partnership with the Community Engagement Unit and Team Leyton, has recently recruited a team of 15 young advisors, aged 15 to 19, for Waltham Forest. These young people have been recruited from existing involvement mechanisms and have a proven interest in and commitment to young people’s involvement.

The Young Advisors have a clear role to play in the implementation of this standards framework and will be an invaluable resource for service areas that are keen to move forward with their involvement activity, but lacking the young people’s guidance or participation necessary to do so.

Young Advisors are trained and employed consultants whose role it is to guide staff on what it is like to live, work, learn and play in the borough. Some of the things the Young Advisors can do are:

  • Help ‘youth proof’ practices, policies and strategies
  • Help staff understand how to attract and maintain the interest of young people
  • Make sure the thoughts and feelings of other young people are considered in the decisions that affect them
  • Work locally and nationally to share good practice and learn from others
  • Engage directly with other young people to get them involved in neighbourhood improvements

Part of the reward for the young people participating in the Young Advisors scheme is that they will receive payment of £8 an hour for all activity they undertake for the Council and its partners.

For more information about Young Advisors, or to enlist their support, please contact Leroy Harley on 020 8496 1526.

Organisations promoting children and young people’s involvement

Action for Kids
020 8347 8111, www.actionforkids.org
Action For Kids (AFK) is a national charity working with disabled children and young people, their parents and carers.

Barnardo’s
020 8550 8822, www.barnardos.org.uk
Barnardo’s is one of the UK’s leading charities. It works with over 110,000 children, young people and their families every year. This includes counselling for children who have been abused, fostering and adoption services, vocational training and disability inclusion groups.

British Youth Council
0845 458 1489, www.byc.org.uk
Independent charity and coalition of 150 organisations, run for and by young people, in order to represent their views to government, the media and others. It organises and facilitates consultations with young people, supports local youth councils, and runs a participation training programme for young people and practitioners.

Carnegie Young People Initiative
0845 456 1697, www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/cypi/home
Organisation promoting the involvement of young people aged 10 to 25 in public decision-making, operated until June 2007. Publications still available.

Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE)
020 7278 8222, www.crae.org.uk
An alliance of over 180 organisations committed to children’s human rights through the fullest implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Publications available online include State of Children’s Rights in England (2002), Children’s Rights Bulletin (monthly).

The Children’s Society
0845 300 1128, www.the-childrens-society.org.uk
Works with marginalised children and young people, focusing on tackling the root causes of the problems they face.

Citizenship Foundation
020 7566 4141, www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk
Organisation that aims to develop young people’s citizenship skills, knowledge and understanding. The website includes resources, forums and competitions.

Get Kids Going
020 7481 8110, www.getkidsgoing.com
Giving disabled children and young people (up to the age of 26years) the opportunity to participate in sport

Hamara
020 8503 7270, www.barnardos.org.uk/hamarafamily
The Barnardo’s Hamara Family Project is a valued and respected service for disabled children, young people and their families in Waltham Forest. It works with all communities in the borough and offers a range of non-residential services.

Local Democracy Campaign
www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=462884
Aims to encourage young people to participate in decision-making and local councils. It also seeks to make councils more relevant to young people. The website includes information on Local Democracy Week, events and resources.

Local Government Association
020 7664 3131, www.lga.gov.uk
Co-publisher of Hear by Right. Also organises the Local Democracy Campaign in partnership with other organisations.

Mencap
020 7454 0454, www.mencap.org.uk
Mencap is the leading UK charity working with and for people with learning difficulties and their parents and carers.

Mind
0845 766 0163, www.mind.org.uk
The leading mental health charity in England and Wales.

National Children’s Bureau
020 7843 6000, www.ncb.org.uk
Aims to promote the interests and wellbeing of all children and young people across every aspect of their lives. Promoting participation and young citizenship is a major theme of its work. Young NCB is a free membership network for children and young people involved in NCB projects.

National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
020 7278 1041, www.ncvys.org.uk
The independent voice of the voluntary youth sector in England, NCVYS provides support, information and guidance to the voluntary youth sector on the development of quality youth participation practices.

The National Youth Agency
0116 242 7350, www.nya.org.uk. Youth Information - www.youthinformation.com
Works to advance youth work to promote young people’s personal and social development and their voice, influence and place in society.

Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation
01952 590 777, www.nif.co.uk
A national charity specialising in community participation, training and development, particularly through the ‘Planning for Real’ processes of community consultation.

Office of the Children’s Commissioner
0844 8009113, www.childrenscommissioner.org
An independent organisation set up by parliament in order to look after the interests of children and young people and to act as their voice.

Phab
020 8667 9443, www.phabengland.org.uk
A national charity dedicated to promoting and encouraging the coming together, on equal terms, of non-disabled and disabled people to achieve an integrated and inclusive society.

Post-16 Citizenship
020 7492 5232, www.post16citizenship.org
Provides news about post-16 citizenship including key citizenship issues. The site includes access to materials and resources. It is part of the Quality Improvement Agency post-16 citizenship support programme.

Save the Children
020 7012 6400, www.savethechildren.org.uk
International children’s charity with focus on children’s rights.

School Councils UK
0845 456 9428, www.schoolcouncils.org
Works with pupils, teachers and local authorities to develop and support school councils in primary, secondary and special schools.

United Kingdom Youth Parliament
020 7843 6310, www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk
Aims to provide children and young people of the UK, aged between 11 and 18, with a representative national voice listened to by government, political parties and service providers.

Waltham Forest Learning Mentors
020 8496 5806
Learning Mentors have been in Waltham Forest Secondary Schools since 1999 and are now also employed in 41 primary schools in the borough. Learning Mentors provide support and guidance to children, young people and those engaged with them, by removing barriers to learning in order to promote effective participation, enhance individual learning, raise aspirations and achieve full potential.

Waltham Forest Youth Services
020 8496 1530, www.walthamforest.gov.uk/youth-service
The youth and community service aims to ensure equality of opportunity for all young people; to help them achieve their potential as empowered individuals, as members of groups within their communities and to support young people during the transition to adulthood.

Useful reading

General

Introduction to the field of children’s participation

  • Alderson P (2000) Young children’s rights: Exploring beliefs, principles and practice. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
  • Cutler D (2001) Taking the Initiative, promoting young people’s involvement in public decision-making in the UK. Carnegie Young People’s Initiative
  • King L (2001) An introduction to effective consultation. Youth Agenda. 22. British Youth Council
  • National Young Agency (2003) Involving children and young people - an introduction. London: Department of Health
  • National Youth Agency (2003) Involving children and young people in decision-making. Leicester: National Youth Agency
  • National Youth Agency (2003) Involving children and young people: where to find out more. Leicester: National Youth Agency
  • Willow C (2002) Participation in Practice: children and young people as partners in change. The Children’s Society

Principles and standards of participation

  • Cutler D (2003) Organisational standards and young people’s participation in public decision-making. Carnegie Young People Initiative
  • CYPU (2001) Learning to Listen: Core principles for the Involvement of Children and Young People. Department for Education and Skills
  • Rotherham Participation Project (2001) Young People’s Charter of Participation. The Children’s Society
  • Sinclair R (2004) Participation in practice: making it meaningful, effective and sustainable. Children and Society. 18 (2): 106-118
  • Wade H and Badham B (2003) Hear by Right: Standards for the active involvement of children and young people. Leicester: The National Youth Agency

Skills and toolkits

  • Advocacy in Somerset (2005) The Headspace Toolkit: a self-advocacy and rights guide for young people in adolescent psychiatric units
  • Boyden J, Ennew J (2004) Children in Focus: A manual for participatory research with children. Radda Barnen (Swedish Save the Children)
  • Children’s Rights Alliance for England (2005) Ready Steady Change participation training pack. CRAE.2
  • Children’s Rights Officers and Advocates, Department of Health (2000) Total Respect! CROA
  • Fajerman L, Treseder P (2003) Children are service users too: A guide for consulting children and young people. Save the Children
  • Fajerman L, Jarrett M, Sutton F (2000) Children as Partners in Planning. Save the Children
  • Kirby P, Lanyon C, Cronin K, Sinclair R (2003) Building a Culture of Participation: Involving children and young people in policy, service planning, delivery and evaluation. Handbook. Department for Education and Skills
  • Kirby P, Lanyon C, Cronin K, Sinclair R (2003) Building a Culture of Participation: Involving children and young people in policy, service planning, delivery and evaluation. Research Report. Department for Education and Skills
  • Teseder P (2002) Participation - Spice it up! Save the Children
  • Save the Children, London Development Team (2004). Child Views of Health. Savethe Children

Evaluation of participation

  • Horrocks C, Blyth E (2003/04) Service user evaluations: Young People, participation and client-centredness. Youth and Policy. 82: 16-26
  • Kirby P, Bryson S (2004) Measuring the Magic? Evaluating and researching young people’s participation in public decision-making. Carnegie Young People Initiative

Ethical issues

  • Alderson P, Morrow V (2004) Ethics, social research and consulting with children and young people. Barkingside: Barnardo’s
  • British Sociological Society (2004) Statement of ethical practice. Durham: British Sociological Society
  • Medical Research Council (2004) MRC Ethics Guide: Medical research involving children: A guide to the ethical issues. London: MRC
  • UCL Committee for the Ethics of Non-NHS Human Research (1993) Guidance Note

Ethical issues: research involving children

  • National Children’s Bureau (2003) Guidelines for Research
  • National Institute of Health (1998) NIH policy and guidelines on the inclusion of children as participants in research involving human subjects. National Institute of Health
  • Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health: Ethics Advisory Committee (2000) Guidelines for ethical conduct of medical research involving children. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 82: 177-182
  • Save the Children (2004) Chapter entitled Good Practice and Ethics in Children and Participation: Research, monitoring and evaluation with children and young people. Save the Children

Consulting disabled children and young people

  • Dickens M (2004) Listening to young disabled children. National Children’s Bureau on behalf of Sure Start
  • Lightfoot J, Sloper P (2003) Involving disabled and chronically ill children and young people in health service development. Child: Care, Health and Development. 29 (1): 15-20
  • Lightfoot J, Sloper P (2003) Having a say in health: involving young people with a chronic illness or physical disability in local health services development. Children and Society. 17 (4): 277-290
  • Russell P, Beecher W (1998) Having a say! Disabled children and effective partnership in decision-making. London: Council for Disabled Children

Consulting very young children

  • Clark A, McQuail M, Moss P (2003) Exploring the field of listening to and consultingwith young children. Department for Education and Skills. 3
  • Clark A (2004) Why and how we listen to young children. National Children’s Bureau
  • Lancaster P, Broadbent V (2003) Listening to very young children. Oxford University Press
  • Dickens M (2004) Starting with Choice. Inclusive strategies for consulting young children. Save the Children

Consulting on healthcare and policy issues

  • Boylan P (2004) Children’s voices project: feedback from children and young peopleabout their experience and expectations of healthcare. London: Commission for Health Improvement
  • Cavet J, Sloper P (2004) The participation of children and young people in decisions about UK service development. Child: Care, Health and Development. 30 (6): 613-622
  • Cutler D, Taylor A (2003) Expanding and sustaining involvement: a snapshot of participation infrastructure for young people living in England. Carnegie Young People Initiative. Department for Education and Skills
  • Lightfoot J, Sloper P (2002) Having a say in health: guidelines for involving youngpatients in health services development. Social Policy Research Unit Publications Office, University of York
  • McAuley K, Brattman M (2003) Hearing Young Voices: Consulting children and young people, including those experiencing poverty or other forms of social exclusion, in relation to public policy development in Ireland. Open Your Eyes to Child Poverty Initiative
  • Tisdall E K M, Davis J (2004) Making a difference? Bringing children’s and young people’s views into policy-making. Children and Society. 18 (2): 131-142
  • Willow C and others (2004) Young children’s citizenship: ideas into practice. Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Involving young people in research

  • British Youth Council (2000) Involving Young People in Research. Youth Agenda. 11
  • Fraser S and others (2004) Doing research with children and young people. London: Sage
  • Gallagher M (2005) Top tips for research and consultation with children and young people. Centre for Families and Relation (CRFR), University of Edinburgh
  • Kirby P (2004) A guide to actively involving young people in research: For researchers, research commissioners, and managers. INVOLVE

Children’s rights

  • Hodgkin R, Newell P (1998) Implementation Handbook for the Convention of the Rights of the Child. UNICEF
  • Ruxton S (1998) Implementing children’s rights: What can the UK learn from International experience. Save the Children