Decision-making: children and young people's participation

Introduction to participation

Participation is a term used to describe how people get involved in decisions which affect or are important to them. The participation of children and young people is a key part of recognising, respecting, and promoting children’s rights, as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The following information supports those who want to engage with children and young people as part of their decision-making process.

It should be read alongside the Scottish Government participation handbook (2024).

The Lundy Model of Participation demonstrates Article 12 in practice and supports practitioners to develop an understanding of the elements required to facilitate participation with children and young people.

Benefits of engaging with children and young people

We must ensure what we do is informed by children and young people themselves, after all they are the people in our society with the longest-term stake in the future.

Children and young people often have fresh and unique perspectives on current issues as well as new ways of addressing them.

There are many benefits and effects of children and young people’s participation including: 

• the realisation of children’s rights
• recognition of children and young people as competent actors
• children and young people having increased empowerment, inclusion and belonging in the decisions shaping their lives
• improved child-adult relations, and reciprocal trust, respect and feeling valued across generations
• shared ownership in creating change
• enhanced validity and legitimacy of decisions
• improvement of policies, laws and service provision