Why does young people’s participation matter at Family Rights Group?

Young people and families with lived experience of the child welfare system are at the heart of our charity. They inform, shape and guide every aspect of our work, and meet regularly with staff to determine the charity’s priorities, activities, and campaigns.

We are unique in bringing together legal and social work expertise with the direct voices and insights of families and young people. This underpins our work to influence and drive change throughout the child welfare system, at local and national levels.

Why young people’s participation matters

We listened to young people when developing our participation forums and this is how our young people’s advisory board was born. Meeting monthly, they set priorities, activities, inform projects and drive our #BuildNotBreak campaign.

Through our discussions with young people, we were conscious that this forum was not going to work for some young people, therefore we were clear that we needed to create more flexibility in the ways young people can be involved in our work.

As young people’s participation officer, I am therefore also supporting young people to share their insights, views, and experiences individually in a way that works for them.

All our participation work with young people and families with lived experience is carried out in accordance with our Family Involvement Policy, upholding the principles of confidentiality, dignity and respect. Young people have access to specialist support from myself an experienced participation officer; counselling and wellbeing services; remuneration, and opportunities to develop skills.

How young people are driving system change at Family Rights Group

In addition to determining our priorities, activities and campaigns, young people also work to influence policy and practice throughout the child welfare and family justice system. Examples of their influencing work include:

• Young people’s experiences have directly shaped how Lifelong Links and family group conferences (FGCs) are offered across the UK. Their input has strengthened national guidance and gave coordinators the tools and resources to prepare for and run FGCs and offer Lifelong Links to children and young people who have previously not been able to benefit.
• At the 2025 Labour Party conference young people shared their experiences of the care system and why we must do a much better job of supporting relationships for children who cannot live at home and the benefits of Lifelong Links. Following this the Children’s Minister has spoken publicly and positively about Lifelong Links, helping to raise its profile nationally.
• Young people shared their stories of being separated from their siblings as a result. The government has tabled an important amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will put a new duty on local authorities to promote reasonable contact between children in care and their siblings.

These examples show that when young people share their lived experience, real change happens. Their voices influence practice, shape policy and strengthen support for other young people and families.

And this is only the beginning.

April 2026