What is participation?

Participation literally means ‘taking part’. As used on this web-site, however, participation is about you - children and young people in Wales - having a voice when decisions are being made that affect you, and being actively involved in making decisions. This right is set out in Article 12 of the United Nation Convention on Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

In 2004 the Welsh Assembly Government ran a competition to explain what Participation means in a way that would be easy to understand for adults and young people.

The winning ‘sound-bite’ was: "Participation means that it is my right to be involved in making decisions, planning and reviewing an action that might affect me. Having a voice, having a choice"

We have also developed National Children and Young People’s Participation Standards in Wales.

These are the things that organisations have to do when involving children and young people in making decisions or asking for your ideas.

The 7 Standards are:
 

1. Information - which is easy for children and young people to understand;
2. It’s Your Choice - enough information and time to make good choices;
3. No Discrimination - every child and young person has the same chance to participate;
4. Respect - Your opinion will be taken seriously;
5. You get something out of it - You will enjoy the experience;
6. Feedback - You will find out what difference your views have made;
7. Improving how we work - Adults will ask you how they can improve how they work for the future.