Policy Design

The Joint Committee of Children and Young People in Highland agreed at their meeting of November 2008

"Each Strategy Group be charged with the specific requirement to
detail how they would carry out consultation and participation with service users on their strategic planning, monitoring and updating of progress."  Minute point 4. iv. 28:11:08

Here are some activities HCF has used to involve children and young people in considering policy issues and contributing to policy planning.

Snakes and Ladders

You know the rules - ladders help you get to the top, snakes make you slide away. If 100 is the best and 1 is the worst what are the ladders, experiences and ideas which move towards best practice and what are the snakes, experiences which slide towards poor practice ? This method was used with Highland Youth Voice (check out the "why" page)

Can of worms

A can of wiggly pipe cleaners - each one with a luggage tag with a statement to provoke discussion - can be controversial, it is a can of worms after all. These can be discussed openly one at a time or each person choose one and then move around to find someone who will say something to agree with the statement and someone who will disagree and take note of their arguments. Then discuss - so no one is identified with particular ideas.

This method was used with young people on their way to Holyrood to meet MSP's.  Check it out.

TOOLS

For a range of activty ideas try Participation Works

Planning a consultation

Plan for information and consent sheets

Ethical considerations

For other  tools for involvement