Developing the Department for Education, Children and Young People’s Participation and Empowerment Strategy
March 16 2025
Consistently highlighted through the Commission of Inquiry report is the need for ‘increased participation of children and young people, victim-survivors and service providers in policy design and delivery’.
At the Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) we are committed to achieving this and believe that we should uphold children’s rights in all that we do.
DECYP has recently finalised its Participation and Empowerment Strategy Action Plan – Year 1, along with a youth friendly version of the action plan, and a more detailed Technical Report, which are available now on the DECYP website.
The work being developed aims to increase opportunities for children, young people, parents and carers to participate in the decisions that affect them, including the services DECYP provides. This involves growing our awareness about the power we need to share to nurture genuine partnerships with the people we serve.
In 2025, we need building blocks in place for this strategy to further develop. These are:
- A policy position and best practice guide to increase opportunities for children, young people and adults to share their views in a safe, consistent and ethical way.
- A model of advisory groups to inform decisions that DECYP leaders make. The groups will include children, young people, parents and carers.
We will co-design these with children and community during the first half of 2025.
How you can help
If you know of an existing child, youth, parent or carer consultation/advisory group that may be interested in joining us to co-design the above outputs, we’re keen to hear from you.
Please contact DECYP’s Child and Youth Empowerment team via:
Sonya Pringle-Jones
Director Child and Youth Empowerment
Sarah Marshall
Principal Policy and Project Officer, Child and Youth Empowerment