In °¬˛ćAƬ, all children, young people and their parents will have the opportunity to participate in decisions which affect their lives. They will have access to services that meet their needs, and the opportunity to shape how these services are planned and delivered.
"Participation means that it is my right to be involved in making decisions, planning and reviewing an action that might affect me. Having a voice, having a choice."
"Participation is a process not an event and Empowerment is the outcome". (Crowley, A. 2004)
Children’s Participation
Children and young people represent about a third of the Borough’s population. Providing opportunities for children and young people to articulate their views and access information is integral to the work of the °¬˛ćAƬ Children and Young People’s Partnership.
A Grand Children’s Council is set up in °¬˛ćAƬ to enable pupils of primary school age to have their say on issues that affect them.
Each °¬˛ćAƬ Primary School has elected two representatives from their school councils to sit on the Grand Council, which will meet once every school term.
From 1st November 2006, every school in Wales had to have its own school council, made up of representatives that were chosen by fellow pupils. This is as a result of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), for young people under the age of 18, which has been signed by 192 countries.
The °¬˛ćAƬ Grand Children’s Council will also establish close links with Talk It Up, °¬˛ćAƬ’s highly successful Youth Forum.
For further information about children's rights, please look at some of the links opposite.
Young Persons Participation
The Youth Forum is all about 'Young People Having A Say'. It provides opportunities for young people living in °¬˛ćAƬ County Borough to have a voice on issues that affect them, and to become actively involved in local decision making.
Young People interested in joining the Youth Forum should:
- Be aged 11-25
- Live in °¬˛ćAƬ County Borough
- Want to get their voices heard and make a difference
- Want to influence decisions on local services
- Want to meet new people and learn new things
- Want to have fun!
Contact Information
Name of Team: Family Information Service
Telephone 01495 369610.
or
Email: fis@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk