The document discusses several key events and policies related to children's and young people's rights in the UK: - The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989 established global human rights for children under age 18. - The 1998 Human Rights Act and 2004 Children Act established rights and protections for children in UK law, including participation in decisions affecting them. - Historical acts like the 1833 Factory Act regulated child labor and an 1885 ruling established youth's right to make their own decisions based on understanding rather than just age. - Recent policies aim to make health and social services more responsive to youth by seeking their input, prioritizing their needs, and empowering community involvement.

1. A PRESENTATION RESOURCE PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL YOUTH AGENCY Tel: 0116 242 7406 E-mail: activeinvolvement@nya.org.uk Web: www.nya.org.uk/hearbyright

2. UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - The first global human rights treaty for all children and young people under 18.

3. 20 November 1989

4. The human Rights Act

5. 1998 Passed in by Parliament in 1998, it became law in November 2000 and is the nearest the UK has to a constitution. It covers all residents of the UK. It includes the freedom of speech and expression. Case law has often upheld the UNCRC, thus bringing its provisions increasingly into domestic law

6. The right of young people to make their own decisions based on their understanding of the issue and consequences, not specifically their age.

7. 1985 Lord Scarman’s Ruling in the Gillick case

9. The Children’s Act, 2004 The Act also establishes the role of Children’s Commissioner for England and the duty to ascertain wishes and feelings for all children and young people in need.

10. Child labour allowed for no more than 12 hours a day for those 13 – 18 years old and up to 9 hours for 9 – 13 year olds.

11. 1833 Factory Act The working day was to start at 5.30am and cease at 8.30pm. A young person (aged thirteen to eighteen) might not be employed beyond any period of twelve hours, less one and a half for meals; And a child (ages nine to thirteen) beyond any period of nine hours. From 8.30pm to 5.30am; that is during the night; the employment of such persons was altogether prohibited.

12. A company director at any age

13. Companies Acts 1985 &1989 Company law at the moment does not specify a minimum age for Directorships. Thus where charities are registered as companies, Trustees can be of any age. In practice the Charities Commission will allow 16 year old Trustees where adults are also Trustees

14. Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR)

15. The Equality Bill which sets up the CEHR received Royal Assent on the 16 th February 2006 The Vision: “Equality, diversity and respect for the human rights and dignity or every man, woman and child are core values that define our lives in Britain.” The core programmes and plans of the CEHR address race, gender disability, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief and human rights.

16. ‘ We must, in the case of articulate teenagers, accept that the right to freedom of expression and participation outweighs the paternalistic judgement of welfare’

17. Court of Appeal Ruling Re M (2005) EWCA Civ 634 Lord Justice Wall Mabon v Mabon and others Mother and Father had separated. There were 6 children. The three eldest boys, ages 17, 15, 13, went to live with their father and the mother kept the three younger children. She then applied for Residents Orders for the three boys, who wanted their own solicitor independant of their parents. This was denied, but granted on Appeal.

18. “ Hear by Right is a very good way of involving young people and improving the standard of services”

19. January 2002, Tony Blair at the launch in Durham

20. Age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales aged 10

21. Children and Young People Act, 1963 This set age of criminal responsibility at 10, but this was not introduced until the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 abolished Doli Incapax (which had protected children as being incapable of making a decision with full understanding of the consequences)

22. “ You are worried about seeing them spend their early years doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play and run around all day long? Never in their lives will they be so busy again.” (Clue: French writer of the 18 th Century)

23. Jean-Jacques Rousseau Emile , 1762

24. “ Children are contemptuous, haughty, irritable, envious, sneaky, selfish, lazy, flighty, timid, liars and hypocrites, quick to laugh and cry, extreme in expressing joy and sorrow, especially about trifles, they’ll do anything to avoid pain but they enjoy inflicting it: little men already.” (Clue: another French writer from the 17 th Century)

25. Jean de La Bruyere Les Caracteres , 1688

26. “ Youth Cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.” (clue: What! Not read the books?)

27. Albus Dumbledore J.K Rowling: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 2003

28. We live in a decaying age. Young people no longer respect their parents. They are rude and impatient. They frequently inhabit pubs and have no self control. (Clue: some attitudes are as old as time itself)

29. Inscription on a 6000 year old Egyptian tomb

30. What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them? Clue: a Greek, but no mate of Aristotle’s

31. Plato, Greek Philosopher, 4 th Century BC

32. All organisations providing health and social care services will be expected to: - seek the views and wishes of patients and service users; - Act on these views; - Involve local people in decision making

33. Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: a new direction for community services. Department of Health 2006

34. All health-related services must take young people’s needs into account. The criteria has nine focus areas; - accessibility - publicity - confidentiality and consent - the environment - staff training, skills, attitudes and values - joined-up working - monitoring and evaluation, and involvement of young people - health issues for adolescents - Sexual and reproductive health services

35. You’re welcome quality criteria: Making health services young people friendly Department of Health 2005

36. An emphasis must be placed on shifting the focus of its patient and public involvement work from activity to outcomes

37. Getting over the wall – how the NHS is improving the patient’s experience Department of Health 2004

38. We must invest in empowering the community to become more involved in all aspects of service delivery and formation

39. Department of Health NHS Improvement Plan – Putting People at the Heart of Public Services The Stationery Office June 2004