Participation resources
Pupil involvement in consultation and decision making on issues of school life. This includes planning approaches to learning and teaching, opportunities for collaborative work and self-assessment.
Websites with practical activities
BBC Education 'Get involved' campaign
Written specifically for young people, this website is full of practical ways that they can get involved and make a difference in their schools, in their communities and even globally. Packed with ideas and advice on how students can get their projects up and running.
Heads Up
Excellent website run by Hansard, an independent charity, to help young people build up the skills and know-how needed to participate in politics. Students can regularly take part in online discussions and debates with MPs.
Highland Youth Voice
An elected parliament of 70 young people from throughout the Highlands making sure young people have a say in issues that affect them and take action on issues that they think are important. The website is run by young people and has lots of opportunities for others to get involved.
Kids Zone - NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)
Area of the NSPCC website written specifically for children. The charity specialises in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. This website offers advice and support on bullying and safety issues to young people.
Save the Children: Help Yourselves!
Website encouraging young people and those working with young people to get involved in their communities and speak out on issues that affect them. Lots of information, ideas and helpful support on developing local projects. Includes funding ideas, resources and some great success stories.
Calendar of events and activities
Count Me In Calendar
Comprehensive, free to use, calendar of charity awareness and fundraising campaigns, UN special observances and religious holidays - updated daily. This useful resource has information on a huge range of events and activities across the UK. It includes sections on 'Education and Learning' and 'Children and Youth'. Great place to get topical ideas.
Projects
The Children's Parliament
Aims to provide sustainable and meaningful opportunities for children of 14 and under to engage in local, national and international democratic processes. Currently piloting the project in three areas of Scotland, but developing an online membership scheme to enable every child under 14 to get involved.
International Teledemocracy Centre
Aims to develop and apply advanced information and communications technology (ICT) to support the democratic decision-making process. Based at Napier University, the centre considers best practice in electronic participation and develops ICT tools to engage Scotland's young people in debate and discussion.
Just Do Something: part of the Common Purpose programme
Information on how to get involved in this inspiring community programme. Lots of advice and ideas on how to get a project up and running, engage your community and get funding. Excellent Teen Zone packed with advice for young people.
School Councils UK
Provide you with everything you need to know about setting up a pupil council in your school. Lots of support, training and resources. Focused on the English curriculum but lots of useful ideas and approaches.
Scottish Youth Parliament
The Parliament is nearly 200 elected young people aged 14 - 25 years, who aim to be the collective national youth voice for all young people in Scotland. The website offers young people the chance to vote on important issues and find information on how to get involved.
Sustrans: Safe Routes to Schools project
Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, works on practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport. The Safe Routes to School project offers free curriculum resources, ideas and advice to schools, local authorities, pupils, teachers and parents to make the school journey safer and healthier for everyone. Website packed with information on making school travel plans for your school and getting your students involved.
The Trojan Project
Project offering young people across Scotland the chance to give their views on issues on which the Scottish Executive is making policies, particularly related to school. It is an initiative of the Pupil Support and Inclusion Division and the Scottish Executive Education Department and aims to tackle some of the issues surrounding young people's consultation and participation with the Scottish Executive. Many of the young people taking part in the project are not currently in mainstream educational provision.
Workshops and activities
Toonspeak Young People's Theatre (TYPT)
Toonspeak provide free weekly drama workshops for young people aged 11 to 25 years living in North Glasgow. It is a participant-led project where young people take an active role in decision-making. They also offer free two-day drama training courses for adults who work with young people - no experience necessary.
Unipaz UK: peace education
Unipaz-UK run a series of programmes for primary and secondary schools which offer relaxation techniques and aim to increase young people's self-confidence and self-esteem. CPD programmes for teachers are also available. Unipaz-UK aim to contribute to UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) vision for a global culture of peace.
Consultations
CitizenSpace: Let the UK government know what you and your students think
Independent service aimed at engaging the general public in the democratic process. A consultation on a topical issue is run roughly every four to six weeks and the results posted. They have excellent fact banks that offer government policy in a readable format. Recent consultations include climate change and the European Constitution. You can also suggest a consultation topic.
Information
Eurodesk
Eurodesk is an information service on European opportunities for young people. Students can find information on work, study, travel and volunteering abroad. They also have free teaching resources on Europe and can offer support and information on any aspect of Europe to schools and colleges.
European Youth Portal
Gateway for young people aged 15-25, with information on work, study, volunteering, citizens' rights and active citizenship in European Union countries.
Organisations
Citizenship Pieces
Details of some really good initiatives taking place in the Tower Hamlets schools. Find out how they planned and implemented projects on playground buddies, road safety and anti-racism amongst others. One section for teachers and another for pupils giving them advice and activities on setting up a school council. Focused on England and Wales curriculum, but with lots of transferable ideas.
Edinburgh Youth Social Inclusion Partnership (EYIP)
Partnership working with organisations and young people in Edinburgh to develop and test solutions for inclusion. Excellent research work, practical toolkits and useful resources offered with relevance beyond the Edinburgh community.
TAG Theatre Company
Scotland's national theatre company for young people. Information on TAG's exciting performance projects and plans, their drama workshops and training programmes for young people.
UK Youth
Works to support and develop high quality work and educational opportunities for all young people. They offer programmes, services and publications to enable young people to develop their personal, social and career development.
It must be emphasised that inclusion of these web links does not in any way represent endorsement by Learning and Teaching Scotland, nor are we responsible for the content of external websites.