‘Children and young people have the right to say what they think and be listened to by adults when they make decisions that affect them’
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Youth Music is committed to providing the best possible music-making opportunities, particularly for children and young people who would otherwise not get the chance to take part.

We are committed to supporting young people in the planning of their own music-making.  This is why we are asking you to consider how you will involve young people in your programme. 

When planning your project, we encourage you to consider the key words below.  The definitions are set out by Save the Children

Participation refers to young people taking an active role in a project or a process.  By participating, young people have the power to help shape a process.

Consultation means listening to young people’s voices and views and giving them appropriate feedback. 

Involvement is used more generally to describe the variety of ways in which young people participate and are consulted.

Practice Standards in Children’s Participation, Save the Children 2004

1. A permanent group of representatives.
This would be a group of young people ways who meet on a regular basis.  They have a specific task and role in the development and delivery of the programme.  Perhaps the group will work together with adults to formulate the project idea, then continue to monitor and shape the project throughout its life. 

Challenges… maintaining the same group of young people for a long period of time could prove difficult

MZONE Young Ambassadors and Young Promoters groups


2. Community groups
When planning a project, you might want to respond to your communities’ particular needs.  You could find out what they want by consulting with young people who are in the groups you want to target through your programme. 

Challenges… If consulting with a large number of young people, it can be difficult to feedback to all those involved. 

3. One off event
This is a quick way to obtain the views of young people.  You can be creative about the form of the consultation. 

Challenges… If you are only meeting with a group of young people once, how will you feedback to them about how their ideas have been implemented? 

Every Youth Music programme must include a trainee.  This is someone who is learning to lead music sessions for young people alongside the music leader. 

Youth Music encourages you to involve your trainees in the programme development.  Listen to their ideas and be clear from the start about their responsibilities. 

Peer Mentors
Young People respond to other Young People.  A peer mentor is an older, or more experienced young person who can guide, inform, and support the music-making of your target group.  For instance if you want to recruit children and young people to your programme, why not use peer mentors to help you.  If your programme is focussing on children transferring from primary to secondary school, it may be useful to have peer mentors from the secondary school to help and encourage the younger children.

Case studies
If you have implemented a strategy for involving young people in decision-making that you found to be particularly successful, we want to hear about it.  You may even see your example listed on this website.  Please submit your case studies to info@youthmusic.org.uk

• Be clear and honest about how much responsibility children and young people will have
• Make the process fun and positive
• Be creative
• Respect young peoples ideas – be positive, but don’t raise their expectations and always feedback outcomes to them
• Think about venues, appropriate times of the day/academic year and transport
• Always consider child protection