Executive Summary
In 2024–2025, Participation People led a bold, values-led transformation across 24 Safeguarding Partnerships in the North West, the region with the highest number of care-experienced young people in England.
Our mission? To embed the voices of babies, children, young people, parents, carers, and families into the heart of safeguarding systems, shifting from compliance to curiosity and from procedure to lived experience.
In just 9 months, we:
- Engaged 800+ professionals across the region
- Co-produced 23 visual diagnostic reports
- Delivered 10 bespoke training modules to 140+ practitioners
- Facilitated 2 cross-regional Solutions Labs
- Co-hosted a flagship multi-agency safeguarding conference
- Designed tailored support for 4 Ofsted ‘Inadequate’ areas
- ️ Co-created a sector-leading Participation Toolkit
Tangible Outcomes:
- Shared language + strategy around participation
- Elevated lived experience in decision-making
- Strengthened cross-sector collaboration
- Shifted practice from tokenism to meaningful participation
Underpinned by Lundy’s Model of Participation (Space, Voice, Audience, Influence) and Participation People’s gamified, trauma-informed, values-led approach, we offered actionable insights and strategies, preparing the region to put people at the centre of safeguarding.
Strategic Foundations: Onboarding for Regional Change
Our journey began with clarity and alignment. Commissioned to lead the “Voice” strand, Participation People laid the groundwork for regional consistency and buy-in. Our approach focused on clarity, co-ownership, and confidence.
Key Activities:
- Cross-sector onboarding workshops (Health, Police, Education, Local Authorities and VCS sectors)
- Shared success indicators, RACI matrices, and trauma-informed language guides
- Youth-proofing all programme documents and planning tools
“We didn’t just talk about voice – we built structures around it.”
— Strategic Lead, MASA
Outcome:
- A co-owned programme underpinned by shared values, a common framework (Lundy), and energy for change.
Better Together: A Regional Reset
In November 2024, 200+ professionals, young people, and MASA leaders gathered for the Better Together Conference. This event was an opportunity for them all to come together to rethink safeguarding through a participatory lens.
Highlights:
- Keynotes from St Helens CEO, DfE Director, Chief Social Worker
- Lived experience storytelling: “Treat me as a human being.”
- Interactive sessions: “Youth-Proof Your Lingo”, RACI Sprints, Postcard Pledges
- Gamified tools to deepen learning and drive commitment
Impact:
- 90% reported a shift in understanding of participation
- 50+ pledges followed up in 12 localities
This reframed participation as relational and rights-based, not just a process box.
Benchmarking Participation: The Diagnostic Phase
To map the region’s baseline, we co-designed a youth-informed benchmarking tool aligned with Lundy’s Model. Every MASA took part in deep-dive workshops.
Data Sources:
- Senior leaders, frontline practitioners, middle managers
- Children, young people, parents, carers
Key Themes Identified:
- Inconsistent feedback loops
- Voice of babies often missing
- Dependency on ‘champions’
- Need for systemic embedding
Outputs:
- 20+ visual reports with benchmarking heatmaps and recommendations
- Regional synthesis across Space / Voice / Audience / Influence
“You gave us something to build on – not just critique.”
— Workshop Participant
Bespoke Support for Ofsted ‘Inadequate’ Areas
We offered intensive, tailored support in Rochdale, Bury, Cheshire East, and Halton—areas rated Inadequate by Ofsted.
Support Included:
- Governance frameworks co-designed with young people
- ‘Voice dashboards’ for real-time feedback and tracking
- Planning matrices and onboarding toolkits
- Leadership development + Train the Trainer programmes
“You met us where we were—and helped us turn inspection pressure into progress.”
— Strategic Lead, MASA
Training Series: Building Skills & Changing Culture
We delivered a modular training offer designed to build confidence, practical tools, and shared language.
Modules Delivered:
- Beyond Tokenism
- Co-production in Practice
- Inclusive Spaces
- Measuring Impact
- Leadership & Accountability
Impact:
- 120+ professionals trained
- 200+ pledges recorded
- Tools shared: RACI templates, Youth Voice Checklists, Feedback Loop guides
“My frustrations are normal – I now feel able to challenge the system.”
— Strategic Lead, MASA
Solutions Labs: Tackling Systemic Discomfort
Two regional cross-sector Labs centred on the theme: “Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable.” Using anonymised cases and provocations, we created brave spaces for difficult truths and tackled systemic blockers.
Outcomes:
- Honest dialogue around equity, power, and leadership
- Co-created governance prototypes and tools
- Labs replicated in 4 additional localities
“Stretching, powerful, cathartic.”
“I finally felt safe enough to say what I really think.”— Solutions Labs Participants
Train the Trainer: Sustaining the Work
In Runcorn, we ran a full-day Train the Trainer workshop co-facilitated by Young Consultants. Equipping practitioners to deliver future training, the workshop explored:
- Persona-led practice
- Facilitator toolkits
- Scenario planning + peer challenge
Results:
- 20+ new trainers equipped
- All materials ready for local rollout
- Renewed professional confidence
“We left feeling like we ARE the trainers of change.”
— Workshop Participant
Legacy: The North West Participation Toolkit
We brought all the learning, tools and insight together in a sector-leading regional toolkit for embedding voice into practice.
Toolkit Features:
- Onboarding templates, checklists, planning tools
- Explainer videos and family-friendly guides
- Audit tools and training decks
- Real stories and youth-led insights
Designed for:
- Governance, strategy, commissioning, and frontline use
- Local adaptation and ongoing impact
Conclusion: A New Standard in Safeguarding
This work has moved participation from the sidelines to the centre of safeguarding. With young people and families leading, and professionals resourced to act, the North West has:
- Catalysed culture change
- Shifted systems
- Set a national benchmark for participation
What’s Next:
- Regional rollout of the Participation Toolkit
- Embedding voice in commissioning and governance
- Expansion into early help and leadership training
- Sharing storyboards, blogs, and best practice to inspire other regions
️ Testimonial
“The NW Regional Improvement Pilot Plan has worked in collaboration with Participation People to understand how multi-agency safeguarding partnerships are listening to—and responding to—the voice and experiences of our families.
Participation People have brought energy, expertise, and a systems-thinking approach to this work. They helped establish clear benchmarks and development plans at both local and regional levels.
This work is about achieving real change—moving beyond tokenism—and progressing at a pace that enables sustainable and meaningful transformation for our families.”
– Emma Ford, North West Safeguarding Partnership Director
Participation People: Not just a partner. A movement.
