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What makes participation activities work well for kids?

Related to Lived and living experience

This resource is part of the Lived experience partnerships toolkit. Through a reflection interview, this resource offers insight into what a child found best supported his participation in a lived experience co-design project.

How were you thanked for being involved?

We got gift cards because we were creating something new. Us kids had a first-hand experience and so knew things the adults didn’t. It was nice to get the gift cards for being involved. It was exciting!

What was it like when kids and adults are involved in co-design groups together?

For our group we had adults and kids together, but I think it would have worked better if the adults and kids had separate groups then the ideas got combined and then brought back. That would have been better as the adults wanted to talk too much and so they got more ideas in than the kids did sometimes.

What makes a good facilitator?

A good facilitator is kind and caring. Has a good sense of humour, that is important. They can explain things without using lots of words. They are fun, like they know little games to play. It is better if us kids have met them before.

How do kids like to join in?

In a group I like to do drawing, have fidgets, play games, use sticky notes on the wall, use big bits of paper to put group ideas on. I can sit for a bit but then I like being able to move around. For doing art, it worked when we got a prompt and they gave us ideas for techniques, but we didn’t have to use them.

How did it make you feel to be involved? What helps you feel accepted for who you are?

I felt good in the group. It felt good to be able to make a new thing that would help other kids. All of us kids were accepted for who we are. We got to choose how we did things. We weren’t forced to do anything but they gave us ideas.

What were the consent forms like?

The information given to us before the group and the consent forms are long and boring. It would be better to cut it right down.

‘It felt good to be able to make a new thing that would help other kids.’

- 11-year-old co-design participant

What was it like before, during and after being involved? How did it fit into your life?

Before the group started, I was a bit nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. I was excited but a bit unsure. When the groups started and we were going every week, I enjoyed it but there were some bits that got a bit boring if the adults talked too much. The group was held late afternoon and that was good because it didn’t cut into my day. But it did take a chunk out of my evening, so I was tired, but it was worth it and I enjoyed it. After, I felt glad that I had done it and I thought it was a good idea to do it.

What makes a space welcoming?

Having the room not too daggy is good. Having nice lights, not giant blinding lights. A nice temperature. Having food and food breaks is nice. I liked the carpeted floor. Have different ways that kids can join in.

What works to get to know other group members?

We did a Q&A game where you go around and say your name and your favourite thing or favourite food or whatever. It was good because we got to know each other faster.

How were values agreed on?

Before the group we got sent a list of values and we had to pick our top six values and emailed them back. Then we used all our ideas to come up with our group values.

What works to have things explained in a group?

Don’t drone on about really boring things that we don’t really want to hear. Still go over it, but don’t drag it out and make it really boring. For our group, they had a slide show (PowerPoint presentation) which worked well because you could listen to them talk or watch the slide show. It didn’t go for too long.

What if you feel upset in a group?

If I feel upset in a group, I would like to have a quiet space to go to, to be able to go to the toilet, have a snack or some water and take some breaths. I would like a person I know to help me by being with me until I feel better. They don’t really need to say anything in particular. Every now and then they would ask me if I want to go back and I would answer. When I am ready to go back, we would just go back quietly, no big deal just slip back in.

After, I felt glad that I had done it and I thought it was a good idea to do it.

What works to give feedback?

We all got handed out iPads at the end of every group and we did a survey about how the group went and also about what we would do next time. It was multiple choice for some answers or typing answers.

How were you kept up to date?

In between groups, they sent us a newsletter. It was good because it wasn’t too many words and had lots of colour. In the newsletter was usually a bit about what we did, and our feedback, like if we thought we got to say what we wanted or not, and what we would do next time. One time the room we had was too small, so we got moved to a bigger room and that was better. And they told us about it in the newsletter.

Do you think you have learned any new skills? What skills might you want to learn?

The skills I used in the group were being able to share my ideas openly, being comfortable around other people when I didn’t know most of them, being brave to contribute to anything that was going on, trying new games even if they felt silly. If I didn’t have these skills, I would like help from a facilitator to help with these things. Better to be someone you already know.

How do you know if your voice has been heard?

I know I have been heard when they look at you and make eye contact and everyone is quiet. When they write our ideas down. And when we can see our ideas or suggestions in what gets done.

How did you hear about next steps?

The next step is a trial of what we created, and I heard about it from my mum. She got an email inviting me to be involved. Then we can see what we created.

How did you give feedback at the end of the project?

At the end of the groups, I had a Zoom meeting with one of the researchers and she asked me what I thought of the whole thing. She had lots of questions. She was friendly. She asked me if I had any questions. And she reminded me of the next steps because I had forgotten. I got a gift voucher after that.

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