Participation risks at a time of change

Reflections on the participation journey

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Bill BadhamPractical Participation07540138967bill@practicalparticipation.co.uk www.practicalparticipation.co.ukTwitter: @billbadham

Georgia, young carer, aged 12: participation may start as transactional, but grows to be about relationship, being and belonging

A. My life – participative democracy

that makes a difference to me

B. Our voice – representational democracy that can have wider influence

C. Poor attempts at representational

democracy,disconnected from lived lives Caitlin, young

carer, aged 9

Participation risks

No discernable change?

Poor community engagement leads to disconnection, sense of betrayal and no discernable change

Participation risks: veneer covering up the cracks of poverty and social exclusion

Participation risks: come and join me in my organisation to do my stuff

When are adults supporting young people on their terms on their issues?

Participation risks: collective rights to participate are only valid and relevant where underpinned by individual rights, freedoms and civil liberties

Participation risks: who participates and who profits?

Participation risks:

Another brick in the wall – our attitudes may have changed but have our behaviours in supporting children and young people to make change happen where they live?

Participation risks: we live here too; what progress toward being equal citizens now?

Participation risks:

Prejudice and discrimination toward the young are all around us. What do you see?

Participation risks:

Change happens! Make sure we notice, share and celebrate

Participation risks?

Joy in children and childhood in the public space

Article 12

Protection Protection RightsRights

Provision Provision RightsRights

Participation rightsParticipation rights

Children and young people’s Children and young people’s right to a good childhoodright to a good childhood

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

AND YOUNG PEOPLE