About Participation Standards: Your Say Involving children and young people in decision making is a key priority for the Government of Jersey.
It was one of the main priorities in the Chief Minister’s
100 Day Plan in 2022, and a priority of the Minister for Children and Education.
Participation Standards ensures that children and young people who choose to have a say are listened to, have their views included, and their contributions respected and acted upon.
Children and young people have a right to be listened to under
Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child .
How our Participation Standards were created Islanders were invited to have their say on what should be included in the Participation Standards by completing a survey. This child-friendly survey which explained what Participation Standards are and how they can be used, was shared through Government of Jersey communication channels and with schools, colleges, nurseries, and charities who work with children, young people, and families in Jersey.
VIDEO
VIDEO
Hundreds of children and young people, and those who work with them, helped to co-create the Participation Standards, and what they should look like and include.
As part of the 100 day plan, the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) hosted a workshop for university students during the summer, and a number of workshops at the Radisson Hotel on Friday 30 September 2022 for children, young people, schools, and organisations that work with them to create the standards.
Workshops were also held in a number of schools and the feedback from students and teachers have shaped the first Participation Standards for Jersey.
You can read the full report, which contains all the feedback that was received during this consultation period, which led to the creation of the first Participation Standards and a toolkit for anyone who wants to engage with children and young people.
How to use the Participation Standards If you're involving children and young people in decision making, you should review the Participation Standards and toolkits which is publicly available to any organisation who wants to consult with children and young people.
The toolkit will help you see the most effective way to get children and young people engaged and involved.
The Participation Standards say that all children and young people should have the opportunity to be involved in decison making. However, it's important to remember that this is a choice. Children and young people have the right to choose to be involved, but they also have the right to change their mind.
If you're involving children and young people, it's important that the information is easy to:
You should support all children and young people in having their say. Some children may need extra support, but this should not stop them from being involved.
When you're asking children and young people for their views, it's important that this is done in a safe and secure way and that their views are:
respected valued treated with kindness Once all children and young people have been involved, it's important that you give them feedback on how their ideas and views made a difference.
Here are some resources to print:
Toolkits for engaging with children and young people The Activity Toolkit was co-produced with hundreds of children, young people and professionals, who all took part in workshops and online sessions as part of the Chief Minister's 100 day plan project.
This resource toolkit is for government departments, services, organisations, community groups and adults who want to engage children and young people in effective decision-making.
The activity toolkit includes:
icebreakers fun activities with worksheets feedback forms for children and young people self-assessment form to check your work against the Standards Having this toolkit alongside the Participation Standards means that any area of Government, as well as charities and any organisation that want to involve children and young people, will have the tools to do so effectively and meaningfully.
Good participation of children and young people goes beyond just giving them a voice. It is a process that includes children and young people from start to finish.
It involves children and young people being actively listened to and supported to express their views. These views should have a genuine influence on policy development and children should receive feedback after they take the time to share their views.
Other useful toolkits include the Jersey Youth Service toolkit, which explains more about Children’s Rights, participation and our Participation Standards, and further toolkits for Early Years and Children in Care are being developed.
gov.je