BUILDING VOICES PROGRAMME
PARTICIPATION CONSULTANCY OFFER
Children in Wales is proud to introduce Building Voices - a consultancy offer designed to support organisations to embed meaningful, sustainable youth participation and co-production into their structures and services.
This programme builds upon a successful project developed with the Football Association of Wales and is underpinned by over 30 years of expertise and advocacy for children’s rights. In an increasingly complex landscape, Building Voices enables organisations to respond to young people’s needs, meet their responsibilities to children’s rights, and shape policies and services that are genuinely responsive.
Want to hear from young people about your service? Not sure where to start? Building Voices is here to help you.
Working with young people can:
Shape services that better meet their needs
Increase your visibility as an inclusive, youth-focused organisation
Identify gaps you may have missed
Demonstrate leadership in rights-based practice
Embedding Youth Voice in Welsh Football
Children in Wales’ Building Voices team has been working in partnership with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to embed a sustainable, rightsbased model of youth engagement within the heart of Welsh football. Drawing on their extensive expertise in participation and co-production, the team supported FAW to strengthen youth voice mechanisms, enhance staff understanding, and lay the foundations for lasting cultural change.
The collaboration began with a comprehensive audit of FAW’s existing youth engagement practice. This identified a lack of structured opportunities for young people to influence decision-making. In response, the Building Voices team worked alongside FAW and the National Youth Council (NYC) to co-design a new recruitment and induction process for young volunteers.
What made this approach different was its commitment to genuine co-production. NYC members were fully involved in each stagefrom designing the recruitment materials and shortlisting candidates, to sitting on interview panels and delivering peer-led inductions. This ensured that the process was not only inclusive and rights-based, but also reflective of young people’s lived experiences.
The result was a replicable and sustainable model for youth involvement, now adopted as standard practice by FAW. The partnership has led to organisational change, embedding the voices of young people in governance, planning, and strategic development.
“With [Children in Wales’] expert knowledge and skills, we have re-aligned and motivated the Youth Council.” — Football Association of Wales
FAW highlighted that one of the most valued aspects of the partnership has been the accessible, ongoing support provided by the Building Voices team. Beyond the delivery of tools and training, the team continues to serve as a trusted source of advice and reassurance.
“I feel safe in the knowledge that the Children in Wales team are always on hand to support with anything we need. It is also great to be able to call and check that the process is being completed correctly, and that we are simply getting it right. The partnership is growing along with our knowledge, and we are continually learning new aspects of youth engagement, participation and process.” — Football Association of Wales
This example stands as a powerful example of how organisations can evolve to centre young people’s voices in meaningful ways. Through thoughtful partnership, practical expertise and a rightsbased ethos, Building Voices supported FAW in making youth participation not just a possibility, but a core strength of their work.
About Children in Wales
Children in Wales is the national umbrella body for organisations and individuals working with babies, children, young people and families across Wales. With over 300 members from the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors, we provide leadership and support to improve the lives of children.
We are driven by a commitment to making the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) a reality for every baby, child and young person in Wales.
Our vision is to create a Wales where all babies, children and young people have all their rights fulfilled.
The Need for Youth Participation
Today, many organisations face growing challenges:
Limited or tokenistic youth voice in decision making
Uncertainty on how to start or sustain youth participation structures
Gaps in understanding rights-based approaches
Policies and services that may overlook the lived experiences of young people
Involving children and young people meaningfully is no longer optional. It is a necessary part of delivering effective, ethical, and inclusive services. Genuine youth participation can lead to better decisions, stronger communities, and improved outcomes. We recognise that engaging with young people can be daunting and it may seem time-consuming or complex. Building Voices is here to simplify that process, provide clarity, and deliver results you can be proud to share.
Our Offer: Building Voices
Building Voices is a tailored consultancy service designed to empower your organisation to:
Embed participation and co-production across your systems
Develop inclusive, responsive strategies
Ensure children’s voices shape your work
Whether you are starting your participation journey or looking to enhance existing practices, we offer expertled support aligned with legal and policy frameworks.
You will be assigned a dedicated member of staff who will guide you through the process, provide ongoing support, and ensure the service is responsive to your needs.
Core Services
Advice and Guidance
Strategic reviews of participation practices
Gap analyses aligned to the UNCRC and National Participation Standards
Expert consultancy to shape your youth voice journey
Who We Work With
We work across a wide range of sectors and partners, including:
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We understand the barriers you face and work in partnership to overcome them.
All services can be delivered face-to-face or online and adapted for different sectors.
Training and Resources
Bespoke workshops on participation, co-production, and children’s rights
Staff CPD sessions tailored to your needs
Access to curated resources, templates, and toolkits
Participation and Engagement Support
Design and facilitation of youth voice groups
Delivery of youth-led consultations
Support to co-produce projects with young people
Why Choose Us
Over 30 years of experience in youth participation and policy development.
Grounded in Article 12 of the UNCRC, the Lundy Model, and National Participation Standards.
Our team are highly trained in safeguarding, and our methods prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all participants in line with Wales Safeguarding Procedures.
We provide frameworks, toolkits, and training that can be implemented straight away.
Access our strong links across sectors to share learning and maximise impact.
We ensure inclusive spaces where all babies, children and young people can have their say in issues that affect their lives.
Packages
We offer scalable packages that can be tailored to your context:
Youth voice audit and action plan:
From £2,000 Staff training programmes: From £375 (per delegate)
Participation strategy development: Pricing available on request
Custom packages are available following an initial consultation. All pricing is clear, with no hidden costs. We are committed to delivering value and aligning our offer to your capacity and budget.
Managing Risks
We understand the challenges organisations face:
• Limited time and capacity
• Uncertainty on legal obligations
• Fear of getting participation ‘wrong’ Building Voices is designed to reduce these risks.
We will:
• Assign a dedicated member of staff to support you throughout
• Offer flexible support packages
• Provide practical, ready-to-use resources
• Embed sustainability to avoid reliance on external facilitation
• Ensure alignment with sector standards and safeguarding requirements
Next steps
We invite you to begin your Building Voices journey today. Book a no-obligation consultation to explore how we can support your organisation to:
Improve service quality
Meet rights-based standards
Contact us
Empower young voices
