SHAPE, Elevating Our Voice and the Participation Framework
Giving Children and Young People a Voice in Sandwell
At the heart of Child Friendly Sandwell is a commitment to ensuring that children and young people help shape the decisions, services and communities that affect their lives.
What is SHAPE?
The SHAPE Programme is Sandwell's recognised participation programme for children and young people.
SHAPE stands for:
- Staying Safe
- Healthy
- Achieving
- Positive Contribution
- Economic Wellbeing
The programme provides opportunities for children and young people to share their experiences, views and ideas on the services they use and the issues that matter to them.
Young people take part in a range of activities including:
- Focus groups
- Surveys and consultations
- Co-production workshops
- Youth forums
- Participation events
- Strategic boards and working groups
- Peer-led engagement activities
The information gathered through SHAPE helps decision-makers understand the lived experiences of children and young people and ensures their voices influence policy, service development and future priorities.
You can find out more about SHAPE on our Just Youth Website.
The Elevating Our Voice Strategy
The strategy sets out Sandwell's long-term vision for participation and co-production.
Developed with children and young people, the strategy aims to create a culture where young people are routinely involved in shaping decisions rather than being consulted at the end of a process.
The strategy commits partners across the borough to:
- Listen to children and young people.
- Involve them early in decision-making.
- Provide inclusive opportunities for participation.
- Remove barriers that prevent young people from having their say.
- Demonstrate how feedback has influenced outcomes.
- Promote co-production wherever possible.
The strategy recognises that effective participation is everyone's responsibility and should be embedded across services and organisations.
Download the Elevating Our Voice Strategy
The Children and Young People's Participation Framework
Through the SHAPE Programme, the Elevating Our Voice Strategy and the Children and Young People's Participation Framework, Sandwell has created a coordinated approach to participation and co-production. Together, these provide the structures, networks and support needed to ensure young people's views influence local decision-making and lead to meaningful change.
Whether you are a council service, school, health partner, voluntary organisation or community group, there are established routes to engage with children and young people across Sandwell.
The Participation Framework provides the practical structure for turning participation into action. The framework ensures participation activity is meaningful, proportionate and leads to genuine influence rather than tokenistic consultation.
Visit our Children and Young People’s Participation Hub for more information.