1. Sara Reid Assistant Commissioner/Is-Gomisiynydd

2. Children and young people’s participation in Wales: Reasons to be cheerful Participation taken seriously by Welsh Assembly Government and National Assembly for Wales Funky Dragon School Councils Youth forums Participation Unit and Consortium Local partnerships NGOs Commitment to UNCRC

3. Where do we fit in?

4. What? Beth? Someone who speaks out and stands up for children and young people’s rights Someone who helps make sure children and young people have their rights and have a say

5. What? Beth? An independent human rights institution for children and young people A children’s champion

6. Why? Pam? Sometimes children’s rights are ignored (or forgotten about) Sometimes children don’t get what they need and are entitled to Sometimes children are at risk

7. How? Sut? Listen to children and young people Tell people who can make a difference what needs to change Give advice and support Tell everyone about children’s rights

8. Why did Wales get a Children’s Commissioner? The POSITIVES are at least as important as the NEGATIVES

9. What we’re about … rights choice influencing listening participation hearing empowering

10. Our principal aim Ein prif amcan To safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of Wales’ children and young people

11. All our work … … must be underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child

12. Key areas of work Influencing policy and practice Providing advice and assistance to individual children and young people Giving voice to children and young people’s views and opinions AND giving them a voice Linked to the UN Convention

13. Keeping children and young people at the heart of what we do Promoting the office and raising awareness Framework for involvement Advisory groups Having a say in the work programme/ What next? events Dialogue: School ambassadors, Backchat etc

15. Why only two cheers? The reality gap: policy, implementation and real life experience Grasping the theory and putting it into practice Meaningful participation and involvement Focus on structures

17. Why only two cheers? Fitting children and young people into adult processes and structures Further work needed on children’s involvement and participation New environments opened up, but still evidence of limited change in many ‘children’s environments’ – classrooms, health care etc..

19. Why only two cheers? Realistic expectations and disillusionment – recognising the limitations of participation for all citizens in democratic states Inclusion – vulnerable, hard to reach and marginalised children and young people; and the mainstream Not just a one off: sustainability, organisational and cultural change

21. Children and young people’s participation … ladder ….

22. … or fried egg?

23. Reality – Delia’s fried egg!

24. The challenge: making sure that every piece of the jigsaw is in place

25. Diolch yn fawr Thank you Gwefan/Website: www.complantcymru.org.uk www.childcomwales.org.uk Cysylltwch â ni: post@complantcymru.org.uk Contact us: post@childcomwales.org.ukwww.complantcymru.org.uk www.childcomwales.org.uk