2. WHY ENGAGE WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE?
There are a number of interrelated reasons for developing good processes for engaging with children and young people, ranging from practical considerations in good service design to statutory duties:
"We need to talk to young people about their health needs in a language that they understand. And when they respond, we must show we are listening - We will encourage the NHS to work with and listen to young people to make sure that local services are shaped in ways that effectively meet their needs"
Our National Health - a plan for action, a plan for change2.1. Service planning and Best Value - Engagement with the community and partnership working are the two fundamental principles underpinning Community Planning. Dialogue with children, young people and families gives policy makers and service providers the information they need to improve the relevance of their policies and services. This is true of mainstream services, where children and young people make up part of the wider community using the service, and of dedicated services for young people. By designing services which more closely match the needs of users, partnerships are contributing to the achievement of Best Value in their individual organisations, while not involving children and young people at the appropriate time can result in wasted or inappropriate use of resources. Developing an understanding of what children and young people are interested in and how they see their futures supports both effective engagement and long-term service planning.
Community Planning structures offer the potential to better co-ordinate local arrangements for engagement across agencies, for example on particular strands of work such as Integrated Children's Services Plans, Joint Health Improvement Plans and Community Learning and Development Strategies which form part of the Community Planning process. Guidance for Regeneration Outcome Agreements, which will form a major strand of work for many CPPs over the next few years, identifies engaging young people as one of the five national priorities for community regeneration.
2.2. Local Government in Scotland Act (2003) and Other Statutory Duties - Under the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, CPPs must have regard to guidance issued by Scottish Ministers. The Statutory Guidance on Community Planning states that:
"Local Authorities, in their initiation and facilitation of the Community Planning process should consult and co-operate with a wide range of interests including… bodies such as: young people and youth work bodies who already make a valuable contribution to the planning and provision of services through their involvement in youth forums and their active citizenship."
"It's important for young people to all get their views heard."
(Sam - Young Person, 2005)In addition to this, there are specific statutory duties to involve children and young people in decision-making on services which fall under the remit of CPPs, for example under the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000, the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004.
2.3. Scottish Ministers - have set out a high-level vision for children and young people in Scotland:
"We have ambition for all our young people and we want them to have ambition for themselves and to be confident individuals, effective contributors, successful learners and responsible citizens. All Scotland's children and young people need to be nurtured, safe, active, healthy, engaged in learning, achieving, included, respected and responsible if we are to achieve our ambition for them."
Developing good engagement processes can help deliver this vision, in particular in relation to enabling children and young people to be effective contributors, responsible citizens and in demonstrating that they are included, respected and responsible.
"Promoting responsible citizenship in a challenging, yet at the same time enjoyable atmosphere, using teamwork and goal setting activities identifies previously untapped potential and self belief and enables the young people to exceed their expectations of their own abilities.
The resulting development of a wide range of positive life skills contributes significantly to the development of safer and more responsible communities."
Stephen Hunter, Chief Fire Officer, Tayside Fire and Rescue2.4. The Citizenship Agenda - Children and young people will become the voters, leaders and decision makers of tomorrow. Early experiences can influence later behaviour and meaningful inclusion gives children and young people opportunities to demonstrate their ability to be citizens in their own local environment through practical experiences and activities. Inclusion in the processes that shape society in a way that is appropriate to their age and ability can contribute to their growth into mature, responsible, active members of society. Engaging children and young people in Community Planning can contribute to this goal but should also help them enjoy their childhoods, feel valued and respect their own environments. The aim should be to break down barriers, where they exist, between young people and the rest of the community and young people and organisations; to move away from their being viewed as a problem to be dealt with and towards being valued members of society.
"It's about everyone deciding what happens in your town as it belongs to everyone."
Young person - What Community Planning is to young people/Young Scot2.5. Scotland's Children's Commissioner - The Scottish Parliament has recently demonstrated the importance it places on meeting the needs and rights of children and young people by appointing the first Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland. The Commissioner's role is to promote and safeguard the rights of children and young people through raising awareness and understanding, keeping law, policy and practice under review, promoting best practice, commissioning and undertaking research and, where necessary, undertaking formal investigations.
2.6. Child Protection - Participation by children and young people is also an aid to protection. A consistent theme of successive abuse enquiries has been the failure to listen to children and young people. Engaging children and young people in processes can therefore promote child protection as well as improving decision-making.
"Things will start happening, communities working more as a team than an individual, funds being raised and projects moving forward. Not a 'them and us' feeling."
Young person - What Community Planning is to young people/Young Scot2.7. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - The UNCRC is a public declaration by all signatory nations that children are especially vulnerable and have a right to expect special consideration. It came into force in the UK on 15 January 1992. The Convention contains 54 Articles covering all aspects of a child's life. One of the key principles of the Convention is that Children's views must be considered and taken into account in all matters which affect them. The UK Government has ratified the Convention but it has not been incorporated in domestic law and it is not, therefore, enforceable through the courts. It is current Scottish Executive policy to reflect, where possible, the articles contained within the Convention when taking forward policy and introducing legislation that has an effect on the lives of children and young people.
2.8. Scrutiny - Audits of Best Value and Community Planning- Under a rolling programme of Best Value and Community Planning Audits of Local Authorities, Audit Scotland reports on performance in Community Planning, including approaches to community engagement. The reports aim to describe how successfully obligations under the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 are being met. Audit Scotland can highlight a failure to comply with the Act and, in the most extreme case, there is a power for Ministerial intervention. The following is an extract from the report issued to West Lothian Council:
"At the heart of the modernising agenda is the recognition that services should be provided in ways that suit the user.… The council identifies a focus on service users as one of its guiding principles: 'a customer focused council… organised around the needs of the citizen'. It uses a range of mechanisms to consult with people. The council has a community engagement strategy and action plan outlining the range of activities being developed to inform, consult and involve people in the community planning process. This includes more ways of involving young people."
West Lothian Council: The Audit of Best Value and Community Planning, Audit Scotland, June 2005
"We are having the right to say what we think and we're having the opportunity to help you to work together to make Edinburgh a better place for young people."
Louise, young person, Youngedinburgh 20052.9. Young people want to participate - One of the most compelling reasons for engaging with young people is that they themselves tell us that they want more and better opportunities to participate in decision-making. A major research programme, Viewfinder 2, conducted by MORI Scotland and Edinburgh Youth Services with over 5,700 young people in Edinburgh provides direct evidence:
"Over half of all young people would like their views to be listened to by involving young people when important decisions are being made (52%); through newspapers, television, videos and websites (52%) and through organised events for young people (49%)."