| Data collection method: |
This project brought together academic researchers (Centre for Research in Families and Relationships, University of Edinburgh) and practitioners/policy-influencers (Barnardo’s Scotland and Children in Scotland) in a knowledge exchange partnership, based on a process of action-learning. The project used knowledge exchange activities, to create opportunities to explore sustainable approaches to children and young people’s participation in policy-making, to articulate current dilemmas and tensions, and to explore possibilities for change and development. Stakeholder events to explore participation in policy making
• An initial discussion meeting was held with key and interested organisations, which informed project development (February 2011).
• The project was publicised through Scotland’s Children’s Sector Forum membership, as well as on the CRFR website.
• A national Think Tank event was held with invited stakeholders (June 2011). The day shared good practice and challenged ways of working. Those attending included government representatives (local and national), Scotland’s Commission for Children and Young People, and public and third sector organisations. Invited speakers included children and young people who had experience of policy-making, and contributors with international experiences of participation.
• A briefing was based on the Think Tank’s findings and widely disseminated: Briefing 1: Children and young people’s participation in policy-making: Making it meaningful, effective and sustainable to generate ongoing discussion. National Programme to explore participation:
• Members of the Scotland’s Children’s Sector Forum were invited to put themselves forward, to take part in a specifically designed programme, Pathways to Influencing Policy, run by Barnardo’s. Five organisations were selected from across third and public sectors (three national third sector organisations, one local authority, one local health authority).
• Intensive preparation for programme included an audit of existing practice of participating organisations.
• The programme involved: two national workshops involving all participants followed by core individual specialist support depending on organisational requirements and final national workshop session.
• The organisations subsequently led a special Scotland’s Children’s Sector Forum event and contributed to a meeting of the Cross Party Group on Children and Young People, Scottish Parliament. Evaluating the project
Evaluation was built into all project activities including the Think Tank event, the national programme, special Scotland’s Children’s Sector Forum event and project team activities. Evaluation tools included: self-report questionnaires, observation and qualitative feedback. National Programme evaluation activities included: pre-programme survey, workshop evaluations, evaluation meetings with each participating organisation and final evaluation event. Project team evaluation: reflective diaries kept by project team, ongoing evaluation discussions and project team evaluation towards end of project. |
