Get involved

We believe that every child has the right to have their voice heard. We will make sure that children can share their views on living in Devon and shape services that support them. We are committed to listen, hear and understand the views of all children and young people, parents and carers.

Here’s what what we mean exactly when we say listen, hear and understand. And, below, we’ve set out the ways in which you can get involved and get your voice heard.

Listen, hear, understand

the listen hear understand logo

Listen – ask me first

  • Where am I in your strategic plans?
  • Where am I in your organisation’s plans?
  • Where am I in my own plan?

Hear – listen and act

  • How do you know whose voice you are hearing?
  • Can you listen to me in lots of different ways?
  • When did you ask me?
  • Have things changed?
  • How do you know I am involved?

Understand – show me, tell me, prove it

  • How will you use what I say to change what you do?
  • What difference will it make to me?
  • Who will check that it has?
  • Who will tell me and how?
  • How will you know how well you’re doing for me?
  • What next?

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Champions for Change logo and the Parent Carer Forum Devon logo

Champions for Change is the voice of all children and young people in Devon who need extra help with their learning. The group is run by young people with SEND for young people with SEND, and the champions meet up on the last Friday of every month.

The Parent Carer Forum Devon is an independent organisation of parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who want to make things better for the families, children and young people of Devon.

Children in care and care leavers

The Stand Up Speak Up logo

There’s lots of information for children in care and care-experienced young people on the Stand Up Speak Up website. There is lots of help and advice, and you can get involved through weekly groups, events and focus groups. You can also follow Stand Up Speak Up on Instagram and Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest news and events.

Any care-experienced young people in Devon can also use the Mind of My Own app to get messages to social workers and other staff very quickly.

Devon Youth Parliament

The UK Youth Parliament Devon is a group of young people, elected by their peers to represent them on issues affecting young people in Devon, locally, regionally and nationally.

The basis for Youth Parliament activity is derived from the Make Your Mark national youth ballot, which is open to all young people aged 11 to 18. The results of the most recent Make Your Mark vote are available here.

To stay up to date with the latest activity, you can check out Devon Youth Parliament on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. For all other enquiries, please email ukyouthparliament@devon.gov.uk.

Family Advisory Board

The Family Advisory Board, or FAB for short, is a diverse group of parents and professionals who are working together to inform and support improvements to children’s social care at a strategic level.

All members have lived experience of children’s social care. If this is true for you too and you would like to make a difference in how services are delivered, then we would love to meet you! The group is supportive and understanding of all experiences, and there isn’t any pressure to share your personal story.

We meet at the 100 Club in Exeter on the second Thursday of every month, from 10am-12pm.

If you’re interested, please contact Claire Richardson on 07866 13 44 27, or email claire.richardson@devon.gov.uk.