Voice: The Right to be Heard
Enabling meaningful participation
Do you make all the decisions about how your coaching sessions will be structured? What would it look like if the children took some, or all of those decisions themselves...?
Article 12 – the right of children to have a say on issues that affect them – VOICE.
It may feel like a daunting approach ensuring that all children in your sessions are heard. Start small like getting input from the children about what they would like to do, or what they enjoy – and then build towards something much bigger – like co-creating your session plans with the children, supporting them to design and deliver a session themselves, or even have them provide input on longer term plans for your club.
You can't put children first if you don't involve them. The Lundy Model of child participation, based on four key concepts (Space, Voice, Audience and Influence), is a great place to start within your sessions.
Enable safe, inclusive opportunities for young people to form and express their views.
Children and young people must be facilitated to express their views.
Their views must be listened to!
The views of young people must be acted upon, as appropriate.
As coaches we shouldn't assume that children will always use their voice – you may need to help them. Once they realise that you are taking their views seriously – they will start to speak up more. But remember, children have the right to share their opinions, but they don't HAVE to. Your role is to create the space where they can do it, if they want to!
Being an active audience, who listens carefully and always welcomes input from your participants is vital.
You've listened to their views... now what!
- True participation requires children's views to have influence
- Take on board what they've said and change things as a result
- If you can't change things - always explain why
Children will start to value their own voice and let you know even more about what they think and feel about your sessions and your club.
Remember to always consider space, voice, audience and influence – and don’t forget to let children know how you have taken what they say into account .
Watch how your sessions, your club, and the children develop - when their right to participate is realised!
Journey into the heart of children's rights with Laura-Jane Jones and Professor Laura Lundy on the Play Their Way Podcast
The Lundy Model
Download a PDF of the Lundy Model to print out and refer back to during session planning.
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- Take a few minutes to reflect on how you support children to have a say in your sessions and in your club, and what you do with that feedback.
- What 3 things might you do in future to move your practice forwards?
Case Study: Your Trust
Empowering Voices: How Your Trust Champions Youth Expression
In the heart of Rochdale, the charity Your Trust is making a profound impact on the lives of children and young people by prioritising their voices. Through their child-led coaching sessions, Your Trust ensures that every child has the right to express their views and be heard. By amplifying the children’s voices, Your Trust creates an empowering environment where those who attend feel both physically safe and psychologically safe to share their thoughts. As our video shows, the results really do speak for themselves.
Watch the video of our day with Your Trust. It provides a powerful reminder to coaches that every child has the right to be heard and that their voices can drive meaningful change.
Your Trust coaches understand that when children feel their voices are valued, they are more likely to engage in activities, communicate openly with peers and adults, and thrive.
By fostering an environment where children feel heard, Your Trust coaches help them build confidence and develop a sense of ownership over their activities. This empowerment is crucial for their physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being.
Children are given the freedom to choose how they want to play, knowing that their coaches are genuinely invested in their journey. This approach not only fosters a sense of trust but also strengthens the rapport between coaches and children.
Play Their Way attended a summer holidays well-being session, where children and young people aged five to 16 went on a nature walk around Hollingworth Lake, near Rochdale.
Health and Well-being Lead Sarah Maeght explained to us that while some children may initially feel ‘very unsure, very wary,’ we should expect to see ‘people’s faces light up’ as the day unfolds, adding that by the end of the session, many children will probably want to stay because they are having so much fun.
This was indeed borne out, as we witnessed firsthand the power that comes from children feeling they have permission to use their voice.
Ensure children’s voices are at the heart of your coaching sessions
If you're looking for activities that encourage communication with the young people you coach, Your Trust has created a free tips resource for you to download. This resource will not only support your participants to communicate openly, but will help them to develop stronger emotional and mental health, along with essential life skills such confidence and self-worth.
