The general rights of citizens in the participation process are now seen as important as it seem to create better mechanisms for governance. If the participation agenda is viewed as good governance, then is there a difference when it comes to specifically looking at how Children and Young People (C & Y P) engage in the governance and participation process?
Is the involvement of C & Y P unique and does it have any implications for public policy? Do C & Y P need different things to help them interact and participate in the governance process and how far can adults go to include them before it is wise or safe to go beyond a certain point? Are there limitations on the level of responsibilities which C & Y P can take and do they need different things to enable them to engage?
More importantly, if C & Y P are included in the participation process for better governance, does their involvement actually make a difference in the way services are being delivered by pubic bodies and third sector organisations which affects the actual outcomes for C & Y P in a tangible and measurable way? The answers to all these questions will need to be considered before it can be determined what the benefits of C & Y P participation are.
Birmingham City Council polls children’s views and voices in the strategic planning of tomorrow’s schools. Digital spaces are evolving which allow every single child access to the debate which is central to the next few years of their lives. So children’s voices can be heard, the difficulty comes if they say things that the establishment find challenging.