Our values

Our approach is based on the development of open and honest relationships with children, on valuing their worth and their views, and on a commitment to creating a space within which they feel safe, challenged and trusted. This means valuing the process of participation as a means of learning and gaining skills, as well as valuing the products of that process.

The Children’s Parliament takes a holistic view of children's lives, a view which sees children as children first, not only as disabled, as troubled or troublesome or indeed in any other 'box'. However it is also our commitment to engage with children from groups, communities and backgrounds where fostering their participation requires specific effort and new approaches. We have developed ways of working that successfully engage with children with disabilities, children from black/minority ethnic backgrounds, children from different faith backgrounds, children from a range of socio-economic groups and looked-after and accommodated children.

Our initiative is based on:

• Including all children
• Working with small groups, with a high ratio of adults to children
• Taking enough time to allow ideas to unfold and deepen
• Adapting activities and pace to the needs of individual children and groups
• Using the arts as a way of exploring and expressing ideas and feelings
• Creating structure and boundaries and then allowing freedom within these

When children come into the CP space we want them to bring with them their knowledge of what it is like to be a child, their ideas and their opinions, and to be willing to voice and explore them.

When adults come into this space we want them to bring with them their facilitation skills, their commitment to listen to and welcome children's opinions, their belief that children have a high degree of talent and ability and to bring their memories of what it was like to be a child.

When children work together in this space they have the opportunity to take responsibility and work in self directed groups. They also develop friendships and gain new insights into difference and diversity.

When adults and children work together in this space they create something both rich and challenging - there is the opportunity to form relationships of mutual trust, respect and honesty between children and adults, and there is huge potential for adults to learn and gain insights from children and vice versa.