This article presents key findings from a scoping review, which answers the following question: What is the state of knowledge on children’s experiences, perspectives and participation in the context of domestic violence?

This scoping review aims to summarise current research on the participation of siblings of children with childhood-onset chronic conditions.

This study analyses secondary data from a prior umbrella review by the authors, focusing on children’s involvement in research processes.

This report details the findings from consultations with children and young people nominated by Traveller and Roma organisations as part of the development of a Traveller and Roma Education Strategy by the Department of Education.

This report compiles information from 57 Eurochild members in 31 countries across Europe and provides an overview of children’s realities in these countries. The report aims to identify good and promising practices, working solutions, and country-specific recommendations for EU decision-makers and national governments to draw from when addressing children’s needs.

This publication is an attempt to capture, celebrate and share ways of working, reflections, ideas, and challenges that have been part of the journey of many Creative Schools. The articles provide a snapshot of the hundreds of projects and programmes which have creatively raised children’s voices. Of course, consultation with children and young people has been a feature of arts in schools and arts in other places for a long time but the scale and reach of Creative schools since 2018 has given us this opportunity to bring together some examples of recent practice, which we offer to anyone with an interest in this area. 

Internationally, there has been a significant focus in policy and practice on the participation of children and young people in decisions that affect them, underpinned by respect for their rights under Article 12 of the UNCRC. While children’s participation has become a core focus for practice improvement in child welfare services, there is a dearth of practical examples of how participation is implemented in organisations. In this paper, we provide a reflective case study of participation in practice in the Youth Advocate Programme (YAP) in Ireland, a large non-profit child welfare organisation. YAP Ireland works with young people who are considered ‘high risk’ using a strength-based approach in a wraparound service that is family-driven and youth-guided. Drawing on qualitative interviews and focus groups with young people, parents, advocates, and staff and management, we describe and critically analyse YAP’s approach to participation. Critical factors in practice include a commitment to participation in policy, practice and culture at all levels of the organisation and scaffolding of participation by staff. Challenges include ensuring that participation principles are upheld consistently across the organisation and resourcing participation.

The Covid-19 pandemic was a worldwide crisis, which had a significant impact on children’s lives. The effects were most damaging for children who were already living in disadvantaged circumstances (United Nations, 2020), with children from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds suffering the most (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2021). Using Ireland as a case study, the purpose of this research is to work collaboratively with children and young people to understand how a child rights-based approach can be embedded in decision-making in times of emergency.

The aim of this scoping document is to provide advice on approaching participative processes and initiatives in the most accessible and inclusive way possible.

The purpose is to support councillors, council officers and those working in other organisations who want to work with those with care experience for the purposes of co-production, consultation, training or other forms of engagement in which a person’s lived experience of children’s social care is a key part of the expertise they bring.