Our Participation Strategy
This Participation Strategy will last for three years. It explains how and why we need to improve the way we work with children and young people.
We want to make sure that young people shape and influence everything we do. We'll do this by including their thoughts and opinions when we make decisions. When young people work with us it's important they feel safe and that they're making a difference.
Our goals
The strategy will:
1. Make sure all staff and volunteers in the NSPCC know what participation is and why it's important.
2. Give different ways for children and young people to get involved that are interesting and important to them.
3. Make sure all children and young people can get involved with NSPCC and they'll feel safe and supported.
4. Give us a way to show children and young people how they make a difference.
Our priorities
1. All children and young people feel safe when working with us.
We will make sure staff and volunteers have the right training they need to support children and young people.
2. All children and young people can get involved in our work.
We will create a space where staff and young people can celebrate their differences and be their true, authentic selves.
3. There are different ways for children and young people to get involved.
We will create new opportunities to work with and listen to children and young people who we don't already work with.
4. We can show how we make a difference.
We will ask young people if they felt listened to and share what works and what could be better.
5. Children and young people are treated like volunteers.
We will find new ways to celebrate and reward our young volunteers for the time they offer to us.
Why is participation important for young people?
- to share their thoughts on the things that matter to them
- to be more in control of the decisions that affect their life
- to develop skills like decision making, influencing and communication
- to build confidence
- to gain a better understanding of their own - and other people's - needs and rights
- to meet new people, make new friends and experience new things.
Who will be involved?
The NSPCC Participation team will work with:
- Young People's Board for Change
- other groups of children and young people
- Participation Forum (a group of NSPCC staff).
We will help other NSPCC teams with:
- training
- ways of working with children and young people that are safe and interesting
- giving advice and support
- sharing what works well.
