Virtual Special Issue: Children and Young People’s Voices in Children’s Services Research
Virtual Special Issue: Children and Young People’s Voices in Children’s Services Research
Since Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has enshrined children’s right to participate in decisions that affect them, children’s participation has become increasingly prominent in global political discourse. From the UK’s new National Youth Strategy, which places an onus on local authorities to gather authentic perspectives of young people, to 30 years of Sangguniang Kabataan in the Philippines, to the Kuntalaki establishing youth councils in Finland, and to the ‘subversive’ youth-organised climate strikes – children and young people are increasingly being afforded opportunities to have their voices heard.
Children’s participation in research is not only a political, ideological or philosophical position, it’s ‘good research’. By seeking to understand social phenomena from the perspectives of those most affected, we strengthen the quality and relevance of our collective knowledge. In recognition of the continued development of children’s and youth participation, here we provide a collection of articles in one of two areas: exemplars of participatory research with children and young people, and methodological contributions that explore how such participation can be meaningfully and ethically navigated.
The following articles are free free to access between 20 May – 20 June 2026.