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Young Voices in Decision-making

Hub na nÓg is the national centre of excellence and coordination in children and young people’s participation in decision making. We support government departments, state agencies, public service and non-government organisations in providing opportunities for children and young people to participate in decision-making, with a particular focus on those that are seldom-heard.

About Hub na nÓg View Participation Framework

How does Hub na nÓg support government & public service?

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Training & Development

Our training and development supports organisations to involve children and young people in decision-making in all aspects of their policy, planning, practice, services and culture.

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Consultations

View our reports of previous consultations with children and young people on a wide range of policy, practice and legislative initiatives.

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Resources

Hub na nÓg supports good practice in children and young people’s participation in decision-making by creating resources and showcasing relevant resources created by other organisations.

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The National Framework for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making

Read the Framework in full herearrow-right

Have a question about child and youth participation or Hub na nÓg?

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Toolkits and Guidance

Practical resources to help you to give children and young people a voice on issues that affect their lives, as well as guidelines to help you to create youth-friendly versions of your work.

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Library

Browse some of the recent publications added to our library.

Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making Action Plan 2024-2028 (Youth-friendly Version)

Youth-friendly version of the Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making: Action Plan 2024-2028.

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Redeveloping the Primary School Curriculum – Wellbeing (PE & SPHE)

This report recounts further consultation with children which took place to help shape NCCA’s development of the new curriculum specification for Wellbeing with children from Stages 3 and 4 (Third to Sixth Classes) in four primary schools between April and June 2023.

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Report on the Consultation with Disabled Children and Young People on their inclusion in Decision-Making

The views of children and young people on creating guidance documents for policy makers and those who facilitate the participation of disabled children and young people in decision making, with a particular focus on those who use augmentative or alternative communication.

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Consultations with Children & Young People for the Family Justice Oversight Group

The Family Justice Oversight group, formed by Helen McEntee Minister for Justice, is currently developing a plan for the family justice system for Ireland.

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Report on the Consultations with Young People to inform the Youth Homelessness Strategy Consultation

In the Programme for Government ‘Our Shared Future’ and in the Housing for All Housing Plan to 2030), the Government committed to developing a Youth Homelessness Strategy.

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Pieces of Us – What’s Next?

In the years since the last Children’s Report, children’s lives in Ireland have undoubtedly changed significantly. As with the rest of the world, the Covid 19 pandemic hit children in Ireland hard.

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Youth Homelessness Strategy 2023-2025 – Infographic

In the years since the last Children’s Report, children’s lives in Ireland have undoubtedly changed significantly. As with the rest of the world, the Covid 19 pandemic hit children in Ireland hard.

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Our Work

Here are some examples of our work

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Implementation of the Participation Framework

Ireland was the first country in Europe to develop a strategy for child participation in decision-making. The National Framework for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making was developed by Hub na nÓg in association with Professor Laura Lundy and sets out clear guidance on how to ensure children and young people are included in decision-making at policy, planning, and everyday levels. The Hub supports the implementation of the Participation Framework through the provision of training, mentoring and advice.

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E-Learning Module

Hub na nÓg is currently developing an online participation module, to be hosted on the Hub website. The module:

  • Will be grounded in the National Participation Framework, the Lundy Model of Participation and the UNCRC;
  • Will use the National Participation Framework and the Lundy Model of Participation as the cornerstone of the approach to consulting children and young people,
  • Will have a duration of approximately 3 hours and be divided into blocks for online delivery.
Online module learning

Consultations with Seldom-Heard Children and Young People

‘Seldom-heard’ is a term used to describe children and young people who have fewer opportunities and more obstacles in their lives. This includes, but is not confined to; babies, toddlers and children under the age of five, disabled children and young people, children and young people with neurodiversity, experiencing mental health issues, in care, in aftercare, from ethnic minorities, rural areas, disadvantaged areas, experiencing homelessness, young carers, children of prisoners, LGBTQI+ children and young people, quiet children and young people, aged-out unaccompanied minors and children and young people from other minority backgrounds. View our consultation reports in our resources section today.

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Innovation of Methodologies

Hub na nÓg is currently working with groups of key expert stakeholders to develop innovative methodologies for the participation of two seldom-heard groups in particular. These are:

  • The Early Years Working Group, which is currently assisting us in the development of an Early Years Toolkit, literature review and set of case studies.
  • The Disabilities Working Group, which is guiding the creation of a set of guidelines for policy makers and practitioners on the participation of disabled children and young people in decision-making.