03 March 2023
As part of the new Participation Standards, launched during the Chief Minister’s 100 Day Plan, all
schools, colleges, nurseries, Government departments and organisations who helped to co-create
them will receive packs and information to show how their views helped to make a difference.
Giving children and young people an opportunity to meaningfully influence the decisions that
affect them is a key priority for Government. It has been highlighted in the Government’s Common Strategic Policy, and in the Minister for Children and Education’s 2023-2026 Delivery Plan.
To deliver on this priority Jersey’s first set of Participation Standards were launched in October
2022 to ensure that children and young people who choose to have a say are listened to, have their
views included, have their contributions respected and acted upon.
Hundreds of children and young people - and those who work with them - took part in surveys and
workshops to have a say on what the Participation Standards should look like and what they should
include. They identified seven participation standards for all children and young people, including:
- Listen - all children and young people have opportunities to be listened to, be included
and involved in decisions that affect their lives
- Choice - all children and young people have a right to choose or consent to be involved, or
change their mind
- Information - all children and young people have information about their involvement that
is easy to understand, fun, or interesting
- Safe - all children and young people feel safe and supported when having their say
- Respect - all children and young people are treated with kindness and their views and ideas
are valued
- Influence - all children and young people’s views and ideas have a genuine and direct
influence on decision-making
- Feedback - all children and young people are listened to and receive feedback
Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Inna Gardiner, said: “We’re really grateful to everyone
who helped to create the Participation Standards. Giving feedback to children and young people
after they had been consulted is one of the Participation Standards.
“In line with this model, we’re delighted to share the finished Participation Standards information
with the schools, colleges and nurseries who helped to create them. This means they can see how
their ideas and views made a difference, and what good engagement with them should look like.”
Assistant Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Louise Doublet, added: “Good participation
of children and young people goes beyond just giving them a voice. It is a process that includes
children and young people from start to finish. It involves children and young people being actively
listened to and supported to express their views.
“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to helping to create the first Participation
Standards for Jersey on how to engage with children and young people. It’s fantastic to see them
being used already across the Government of Jersey in the Inclusive Education programme and the
Youth Diversion consultation project by Home Affairs.”
The resources, toolkits and information about Participation Standards are also publicly available for
any organisation who is engaging with children and young people on the your say webpage.
Please also see two supporting videos:
Creating Participation Standards - YouTube
Jersey's Participation Standards - YouTube
gov.je