PANDA: Participation and collaboration for action

How do we give children under 12 a real voice in child welfare services? This European project empowers professionals with tools, training and a shared participation framework.

In short
Together with partners from Belgium, Northern Ireland, Norway and Spain, we strengthen social workers, trainers and policymakers in participatory work with children under 12 in child welfare. The project develops a shared European framework, practical tools and a training toolkit to support implementation.

Need and relevance
Although children's right to participation is embedded in international law and policy, applying it in practice remains challenging—especially with younger children. Across Europe, professionals face similar barriers in involving this group in decision-making. This project addresses those gaps.

From approach to impact
We identify and exchange good practices, develop a transnational framework for organisations and policy, and create a toolkit for trainers in lifelong learning contexts. This supports more child-centred welfare services, aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals.