Children’s Empowerment
The Children's Empowerment Project ensures that children and
young people can influence mainstream policy, planning and decision
making across all levels of service provision.
It achieves this by:
- Enabling meaningful dialogue between children, young people and
adults
- Supporting and empowering young people to express their views
in fun and creative ways
- Supporting those involved in service planning, commissioning
and delivery to engage children and young people effectively
- Involving and supporting young people to fully participate in
local decision making processes and mechanisms
- Sharing good practice and avoiding duplication
Children's Champions
Every two years, a Children's Champion and Deputy Children's
Champion are elected by their peers to advocate and drive forward
children's rights for all children and young people in Rochdale
borough.
Children's Council
Rochdale Borough Children's Council is a vibrant group of
children and young people which consists of the Children's Champion
and Deputy, representatives from community forums and independent
members who have an interest in giving children and young people a
voice. The Children's Council is keen to work with local
council services and organisations in developing effective
mechanisms for children and young people to be involved in decision
making processes.
Post-It Postcard System
This offers an opportunity for children and young people to have
their say about issues that concern them. The prepaid
postcards are available in all schools, libraries and community
points. Children can use them to put forward an idea, suggestion or
make comments which can influence or improve young lives in
Rochdale borough.
The Big Listen
The Big Listen is a leading-edge annual conference developed by
the Empowerment Project. It brings together hundreds of
children and young people from across the borough to give them the
opportunity to express their views and opinions to officers and
service leads including councillors, local MPs, NHS managers, head
teachers, council managers and the Police.