A Brief Introduction as to why we need a Participation Strategy in Halton

Halton Participation Strategy

What is Participation?

Participation is about involving children and young people in decision making on all levels. For good participation to happen service providers must listen and work in partnership with the service users to create and develop the best opportunities for a service to develop and meet the needs of those attending it.

Involving children and young people in decision making and problem solving will develop and better the services already existing in Halton. Participation is about creating a culture of agencies responding, communicating and informing those who use the service they provide.

Participation is not a new, radical idea, lots of groups even those working with younger children under 5 are already encouraging active participation (even if they think that they are not). We now need to recognise and develop the good work we are already doing. By doing this, better services will be created that are more responsive to the needs of children and young people in Halton.

The following model of the Participation Ladder (Hart 1991 & Wade et al 2001) shows the various levels of influence and control over the decisions, levels of influence and control children and young people have. The further up the ladder an organisation climbs the more power and responsibility they pass to children and young people. It is important to however, to recognise that different types of involvement and participation are valid for different children and young people at different times. It depends on their own wishes and also what is possible for the organisation.

Why is participation important?

“Children and young people have a wealth of knowledge, experience and views that can help to design inform and improve a service or group and its effectiveness. “ HITS

Children and young people have a right to be consulted and involved in the services that affect them, as stated in the UN Convention on The Rights of Children, the Children’s Act 1989. Without their insight and input how do we, as adults know if what we are doing or providing is appropriate, and that it is working for the children and young people we are working with?

Active participation is also being seen as a part of an organisations ‘Good Practise’ and is being promoted by The Government on a National level. Many funding bodies are also starting to ask for evidence of active participation from groups and services applying for funds so being involved in Halton’s Participation Strategy will be beneficial in many areas.

Fresh ideas and new perspectives about services, policies and processes can be bought to our attention by children and young people. They can change and adapt the success and direction of a project or group just by being asked. The solution to them may be clear when we can be distracted by budgets, funding and red tape.

Adults in charge of a service must really want to involve children and young people, and feel that their input is important and not do it just because they feel they should or so that they can tick a box.

Involving children and young people not only helps adults learn about what is important to them but also the children and young people also learn various skills like listening, budgeting, formulating plans, compromise, meeting skills, planning etc. Being involved in participation helps communication, confidence and self-esteem.

Participation is also a tool in aiding child protection and children’s rights. If we listen to children and young people and ensure they feel that their opinions and feelings are important, we will not only provide key essential services but we will also create a safe and equal environment. This is of course important in settings where issues of child protection may arise.

Why We Need a Participation Strategy in Halton.

Across the Borough of Halton, children and young people are being involved in participation but the levels and standards of active participation vary. We have some services and groups who work at all of the 3 levels (involvement, acting together and supporting) with the children and young people involved and others who need to continue to develop and think of new way in engaging children and young people in their services.

By having Participation Standards in Halton we will be able to support groups, agencies and services who are in the process of starting participation work with children and young people.

Not only will those people involved in a specific project benefit but so will the local community. We will be able to promote children and young people as creators not consumers and as active participants and citizens.

Participation should not be the responsibility of one person or one agency in Halton it should be built into an organisations value’s and reflected in its planning, delivery and communication. All services should have a consistent, sound and child centred approach to children and young people’s involvement and participation.

Why We Need Children & Young People Involved?

A participation strategy can not be devised without the help of children and young people and by having a group who will meet up and look at, contribute to and comment on the work that is being done for the strategy.

Again by asking children and young people to get involved we will be improving the way in which the strategy is developing and we will also know if we are devising a strategy that agencies and services can put into practice that will increase and encourage participation. If we are going to be encouraging children and young people to get involved in the delivery and running of a service then they can advise us about how to ensure we are making it accessible to everyone in the Borough.

We are looking for children and young people to get involved in various forms. We are looking for a group of young people will be important in helping make decisions about the strategy and how it is written. The way that they the young peoples group will work is that it is self led but will have support from adults. We are also looking for younger children to be involved through smaller activities, group work and competitions.

If you know of any children or young people who would like to be involved or for more information then please contact-

Gaynor Bevan, Participation Worker, Halton Children’s Fund

0151 257 8260 nwcf@mail.nch.org.uk