funky dragon

The Participation Consortium is a multi-agency strategic body working at a national level to develop capacity and practice in terms of the participation of children and young people (0-25 years) in decision-making in Wales. The Consortium was initiated in 2003 by the Welsh Assembly Government and current membership includes:

Black Voluntary Sector Network, Cardiff Black Youth Network, Children in Wales, CWVYS, Funky Dragon, Framework for Partnership Co-ordinators, NSPCC, Tros Gynnal, Voices from Care, Save the Children, WCVA, Canllaw, Youth and Pupil Participation Division (on behalf of WAG), the Children’s Commissioners Office, Youth Forum Workers, Youthlink Wales, Barnardos, CAFCASS, Carnegie Young People’s Initiative, CEWC

A consortium approach to developing participation ensures co-ordination and the sharing of good practice, avoids duplication and acknowledges diversity.

The Participation Consortium has several Sub Groups focusing on different aspects of children and young people’s participation.  Key priorities for the Consortium include:

• Participation in education
• Participation of 0-10s
• Training in participation
• Setting standards and gathering evidence on the benefits of participation

The Chair of the Participation Consortium is a member of the WAG Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) on Participation and feeds into strategic decisions made about children and young people’s participation at a senior level.

The Participation Consortium received funding from the WAG Children and Family Grants Scheme and the European Social Fund to establish a Participation Unit in 2004. 

It is important to remember that the Participation Consortium and the Participation Unit work together at a national level. They work closely with the Participation Project based within the Welsh Assembly Government and with practitioners through the recently established Participation Workers’ Network for Wales, based at Children in Wales.