Children and young people's inclusion in public decision-making

In this article Alison Partridge considers two examples of developing the participation and inclusion of children and young people in public decision-making in Oxfordshire. The projects are compared with research findings focusing on the impact of participation on children, young people, adults and organisations. The author highlights the value and the challenges of such activity and outlines the learning in relation to developing a culture of participation within organisations. She concludes positively in relation to the depth of the contribution and the creativity that children and young people bring to decision-making, while emphasising that the commitment, skills and resources required to effectively embed such approaches are considerable. At root involving young people in public decision-making demands a willingness to challenge deeply held assumptions about children's rights and the existing power relationships between adults, professionals, organisations and children and young people.