Children, young people and poverty in Sandwell

Area of Science:

• Child Rights Law
• Public Health Policy
• Social Services Research

Background:

• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) establishes universal rights for children.
• Effective service development requires understanding and incorporating the perspectives of the target population.
• Local authorities are responsible for implementing policies that uphold children's rights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how incorporating children's and young people's voices influences the development of local services.
• To assess the practical application of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at a local level.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of service development initiatives in Sandwell.
• Engagement with children and young people to gather their perspectives.
• Review of service provision against UNCRC principles.

Main Results:

• Direct input from children and young people was crucial for tailoring services to their needs.
• Services developed with youth participation demonstrated greater appropriateness and effectiveness.
• The process highlighted successful local implementation of UNCRC principles.

Conclusions:

• Actively listening to children and young people is essential for creating effective and rights-based services.
• Local authorities can successfully integrate child participation into service design.
• Prioritizing youth voices strengthens the application of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.