Participation Guide - Benefits & Barriers

Practical ways of involving children, young people and families in decision making

The 2 Bs (Benefits and Barriers) to Participation

Benefits to Participation

The benefits of participation can be seen from two aspects:

Benefits for children, young people and parents	Benefits for projects, organisations and management boards

Success of projects and initiatives develop sustainability. Improved skills and knowledge ranging from practical skills such as presenting ideas, speaking in and to groups, writing and preparing reports, newsletters, letters, posters, negotiation and public speaking. Improved confidence, in feeling valued, being of some worth to friends and peers, and feeling successful (not all young people can be academically successful, arty or sporty). Developing relationships with other children, young people and parents/carers. A feeling of ownership over the services they access. Greater awareness of children and young people’s rights. Greater awareness of participation and decision making.	Improved, better targeted and more effective services for children, young people, and their famililes. It supports and complements service planning, development and evaluation. Meets user’s needs more effectively. Improved partnership working. Best use of financial resources. Meets government objectives and inspection processes.

Involving children, young people and parents/carers in decision-making makes good sense but can become difficult for a variety of different reasons. These may include:
Children, young people and parents/carers not wanting to get involved.
Lack of staff, resources, motivation or time within your organisation or project to involve children, young people and parents/carers
Communication barriers such as language and cultural differences.
Lack of skills to listen, and work with children, young people and parents/carers.
Lack of knowledge on safeguarding and concerns over ethical constraints of involving children, young people and parents/carers.
Working flexibly with children, young people and parents/carers. Some issues are: access, time, venues etc.
Lack of confidence in knowing how to involve children, young people and parents/carers meaningfully.
Lack of awareness of the benefits to be gained.
Over enthusiasm by workers who believe they know what is needed and how it should be delivered due to their experience.

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