Participation team - Print version

The Participation Service works with children, young people and their families to make sure:

• Children and young people have a voice about the decisions that affect them
• Colleagues and partners are advised, supported and challenged around good practice
• The Council is helped in developing services and policies and that this meets the needs of residents
• Parents, carers, children and young people can be involved in assessing the current service, planning and reviewing services for the future. 

Our core values come from the Child Friendly Cov pledges [https://www.childfriendlycov.co.uk/pledges].

The Participation Service helps make sure:

• We are sensitive to the needs of the child
• We support the voice of the child and make sure it is heard and that it is used to build strong services
• We improve outcomes through the voice of the child
• We make sure the culture has the child at the centre of everything and prevent the unthinkable.

People can contact us when they need help in influencing the service they receive.

• Michael Ross: Participation Team Leader
• Shireen Stuart: Child Friendly Cov Lead for The Participation Team/Participation Team 
• Adam Woodward: Participation Team 

Voices of Care Council

The Voices of Care Council is an independent group of young people with experience of being in care. We meet once a month to have fun, discuss the issues that matter most to young people. 

Why join Voices of Care? 

• Have your voice heard
• Have fun
• Influence decisions that shape services for young people in care
• Work alongside leaders to improve the care system
• Meet other young people, share experiences, and build confidence

The Voices of Care Council is here to:

• Help the Council make decisions which have an impact on your life.
• Represent your views as service users.
• Provide you with access to senior managers and elected members [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/11635/structure] so that you can talk about the issues that affect you.
• Ensure that the Council is keeping the promises it has made in the Coventry Pledge [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/coventrypledge].

How to get involved

• Join the steering group and come along to monthly meetings - every second Wednesday of the month.
• Become a representative for primary school age children, secondary school age or care leavers.

Being a member of the Voices of Care Council is important.  It gives you the chance to get involved in groups outside Coventry and to receive training. It's an opportunity for you to meet other people who have experience of being in care.  It also helps build confidence and looks good on your CV!

Voices of Care posters

• Dear Senior Managers [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/25303/dear_senior_managers]
• Dear PA [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/25304/dear_pa]
• Dear councillor (poster) [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/25307/dear_councillor_poster]
• Dear social worker poster [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/25343/dear_social_worker_poster]
• Dear foster carer poster [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/25344/dear_foster_carer_poster]
• Coventry Pledge [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/25305/coventry_pledge]
• Your guide to being in care [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/25306/your_guide_to_being_in_care]
• All About Me booklet [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/26450/all_about_me_booklet]

Child Friendly Cov

We want Coventry to be the best place in the UK for children and young people to live and grow up in. 

Child Friendly Cov is a campaign to make Coventry a child and young person-friendly city, ensuring that Coventry is a place where children and young people are valued, supported and enjoy themselves. 

Working with local children and young people, we have identified the following themes as our priorities for making Coventry a child-friendly city.  

Children and young people in Coventry should always: 

• feel and be valued 
• have opportunities 
• feel and be safe 
• be healthy 
• be and feel loved 

To make Coventry a child-friendly city, we need to work together as partners – always keeping children and young people at the heart of what we do as a whole city.  

Watch our Child Friendly Cov video

There are lots that are already happening in Coventry which make this a great city for children, young people and their families – Child Friendly Cov wants to build on this, showcasing what we already do, and building upon this so that everyone is committed to making Coventry a city which is truly child-friendly. 

We know that what being valued, having opportunities and feeling safe means for children and young people at different ages may look different, and therefore we want to explore these priorities under four age groups: Under 5s, Primary aged, Secondary aged and Post-16.  

Read more on our Child Friendly Cov website. [https://www.childfriendlycov.co.uk/]