From Participation to Power: Why Children’s Voices Matter

Want to know how you can influence the decisions that shape your life?Arthur Templeman-Lily at 17 years old is a children’s rights consultant from Wales, who works to ensure young people’s voices are heard in decisions that affect their lives. He tells Alma and Lucinda about his experience in children participating in shaping law and policy, and why Cardiff is a leader in children’s rights.  Arthur explains how he became involved in children’s rights work and champion youth voices. We discuss:·      How he went about producing the children-led book, ‘Pause, Play, Fast   Forward: The Journey of Children in Wales’·      how the book is being used in schools and youth settings·      why Wales became one of the first UK nations to criminalise smacking·      the reasons and importance of voting at 16 years old·      the age of criminal responsibility, comparing Wales with Scotland.·      advice for children who want to learn more about their rights or get involved.When Arthur was 10, he really enjoyed history and loved writing fan fiction about  the Lion King! If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at [email protected], contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info  or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends. See you soon in the next episode!