Young Voices in Decision-making

Implementation of the Participation Framework

Ireland was the first country in Europe to develop a strategy for child participation in decision-making. The National Framework for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making was developed by Hub na nÓg in association with Professor Laura Lundy and sets out clear guidance on how to ensure children and young people are included in decision-making at policy, planning, and everyday levels. The Hub supports the implementation of the Participation Framework through the provision of training, mentoring and advice.

Online Module

Hub na nÓg is currently developing an online participation module, to be hosted on the Hub website. The module:

• Will be grounded in the National Participation Framework, the Lundy Model of Participation and the UNCRC;
• Will use the National Participation Framework and the Lundy Model of Participation as the cornerstone of the approach to consulting children and young people,
• Will have a duration of approximately 3 hours and be divided into blocks for online delivery.

Consultations with Seldom-Heard Children and Young People

‘Seldom-heard’ is a term used to describe children and young people who have fewer opportunities and more obstacles in their lives. This includes, but is not confined to; babies, toddlers and children under the age of five, disabled children and young people, children and young people with neurodiversity, experiencing mental health issues, in care, in aftercare, from ethnic minorities, rural areas, disadvantaged areas, experiencing homelessness, young carers, children of prisoners, LGBTQI+ children and young people, quiet children and young people, aged-out unaccompanied minors and children and young people from other minority backgrounds. View our consultation reports in our resources section today.

Innovation of Methodologies

Hub na nÓg is currently working with groups of key expert stakeholders to develop innovative methodologies for the participation of two seldom-heard groups in particular. These are:

• The Early Years Working Group, which is currently assisting us in the development of an Early Years Toolkit, literature review and set of case studies.
• The Disabilities Working Group, which is guiding the creation of a set of guidelines for policy makers and practitioners on the participation of disabled children and young people in decision-making.