“The key to good consultation is making sure children, young people and their communities are the centre
of the process.”
Children’s Links has an excellent track record of successful consultation projects with children and young
people across the UK. What makes Children’s Links unique is the degree to which children and young people
are involved at every stage of the process. This is reflected in the ethos of the entire organisation.
Young people are on Children’s Links board of trustees and every new member of Play Team Staff is
interviewed by a children’s panel before being accepted for their respective positions. Children inform
every single one of the many Children’s Links projects from control of budget to choice of activities.
This ethos of participation underpins the successful consultation work we do with children and young people
across the UK and is particularly vital when implementing pathfinder and playbuilder consultation.
Children’s Links has developed a wide range of innovative tools and methods to have the best possible
chance of engaging with children and young people.
• Child Led Consultation – by children, for children. 
• Direct one to one consultation – formal and informal interviews by trained adults.
• Consultation Games – specifically designed for each project.
• Work in schools.
• Video Diaries – Children’s true thoughts.
• Photographs taken by children.
• Play Events - to engage the whole community in consultation.
• Digital Information Gathering - using text, email and social network sites.
• Innovative Play Activities - to engage and promote creative thinking.
• Loose Parts Play – Identifying children’s needs through creative play.
• Model Making - to visualise consultation elements.
• Targeting hard to reach children.
If you want any more information on the successful consultation work Children’s Links has carried out across the UK or wish to engage Children’s Links to facilitate Child Centred Consultation for your
organisation please contact play@childrenslinks.org.uk or 0845 3730645