1. Speak up: how youth participation can work for you Emily Middleton Youth Adviser to the UNICEF UK Board of Trustees

2. Youth participation is......the active involvement of young people in decision-making

3. Why bother? 1)Because it’s a right under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 12: You have the right to say what you think should happen when adults are making decisions that affect you, and to have your opinions taken into account.

4. Why bother? 2) It’s great for the young people involved  Can get their voice heard! Learn and develop new skills Meet and work with other young people Build better relationships with adults Gain valuable experience Have an impact – you can make a difference! Get involved in national organisations

5. Why bother? 3) It’s great for the whole school Most people in any school are pupils – makes sense to listen to what they think! Pupils can have new and creative ideas The decision-makers (e.g. Headteachers and governors) can make better-informed decisions Build better relationships between pupils and staff

6. How can youth participation be effective at school? 1) Make sure everyone’s on board –staff and students 2) Be clear on how it’s going to work 3) Have a participation champion! 4) Make sure pupils are supported 5) Make it meaningful 6) Feedback to pupils For more advice and resources, see the Participation Works website: www.participationworks.co.ukwww.participationworks.co.uk

7. You can make it happen

8. Youth participation in UNICEF UK Two youth advisers on the Board of Trustees Junior 8 Child Friendly Communities Article 12 Advisors Young people campaigning through the Tagd website

9. UNICEF UK at the Children’s Climate Forum 160 youth Delegates from 40 countries Created and presented a declaration to world leaders UNICEF UK recruited and supported 4 young people to represent the UK

10. Useful links Tagd – UNICEF UK’s website for young people www.tagd.org.uk www.tagd.org.uk UNICEF UK – www.unicef.org.ukwww.unicef.org.uk British Youth Council (lots of opportunities for young people) - http://www.byc.org.uk/http://www.byc.org.uk/ Participation Works - www.participationworks.org.ukwww.participationworks.org.uk Hear By Right (standards and resources for youth participation) - http://hbr.nya.org.uk/http://hbr.nya.org.uk/