The annual Voice of the Child Conference
Our 14th annual Voice of the Child Conference
The annual FJYPB Voice of the Child conference is entirely led, organised and run by members of the FJYPB with a goal is to bring together the key professionals in family justice to deliver speeches, participate in a panel discussion, and lead workshops that are focused and on a wide range of key family justice topics. The conference also provides the opportunity to interact with and learn from board members and fellow attendees to discuss how to implement best practice when working with children and young people.
The Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB) held its annual Voice of the Child conference on Thursday, 25 July 2024.
The event was held across two livestream sessions and this year’s theme was:
Childhood lasts a lifetime: turning up the volume of the voices of children and young people who are or have been victims of domestic abuse and harmful parenting
Watch the livestream sessions. Click on the title to view:
- Conference introduction with FJYPB members and Sally Cheshire, Cafcass Chair
- FJYPB update
- FJYPB Past
- FJYPB Present
- FJYPB Top tips
- A panel session with Jacky Tiotto, Cafcass CEO, Andy Smith, President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS), Ellen Miller, SafeLives CEO and Justice Gwynneth Knowles, High Court Judge, Family Division Office
- In my Shoes: hearing directly from children and young people about their experience of family law proceedings
What FJYPB members said about this year's conference:
Danielle:
"The FJYPB has been a privilege to be a part of and watch grow, even over the 2 years I’ve been involved, shown in the best possible way through our Voice of the Child conference this week! To be able to say I’ve been part of something actively improving the experience of thousands of young people across England and Wales is an honour, but the board's given me as much as I hope I have given it. I've found a place where I feel understood and through like-minded friends, I've felt my confidence and self-respect grow. I'm excited to watch how the board develops and, in the future, and of course I'll be tuning into next year’s conference."
Joe:
"Being a part of the 'Voice of the Child conference' was exciting and a good experience."
What the FJYPB support team said:
"The Voice of the Child' conference is such a privilege to be a part of, thank you to all the members for everything you do. You are just so inspiring, and I am hugely proud of you all. You SMASHED it!!!!!"
Previous Voice of the Child Conferences
The Family Justice Young People’s Board once again brought partners from across the family justice system, including colleagues in Cafcass, together for their annual Voice of the Child conference which was held over two live stream sessions on Thursday, 27 July 2023.
The event was introduced by Sally Cheshire, Cafcass Chair and this year’s theme was: Building trust to enable children and young people to participate in their family court proceedings in the context of delay.
The sessions focused on TRUST and how professionals can work to build meaningful, trusting relationships with the children and young people that they work with. The board members specifically looked at those children and young people who have experience of deprivation of liberty, young people leaving care, and the impact of delay.
At the event’s panel session, FJYPB members asked questions about what more could be done to improve trust between professional and young people in the context of delay.
Lolita Gerald, Assistant Director:
“A truly impactful event that touched many. Board members insights regarding the importance of clear and honest communication was an important reminder to keep children and young mind throughout their proceedings. The commitment of board members to challenge colleagues throughout the family justice system remains a strength of the FJYPB. It’s a privilege to the lead the board.”
FJYPB members have captured the highlights of this year’s event in their Voice of the Child conference summary 2023
The theme for the 2022 Voice of the Child Conference was Delays in the Family Courts: The impact on children and young people, we explored delays in the family courts, looking at the impact on children and young people and what is being done to reduce delays.
We set our stakeholders a number of key challenges focusing on reducing delay.
system together during their annual Voice of the Child conference, to focus on and discuss the needs of children and young people going through the family courts.
The theme for this year’s conference – delivered virtually over a series of webinars – was ‘communication’.
The FJYPB published a summary of the conference webinars:
In 2020, the FJYPB Voice of the Child Conference (VOTC) focused on Domestic Abuse.
The FJYPB published a summary of the conference webinars:
FJYPB Voice of the Child Conference 2020 summary
The FJYPB also shared tips for professionals to minimise the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people, including:
- Use empathy
- Put yourself in their shoes
- Learn to read signs: children are not always aware that they are in a domestic abuse situation
- Understand and listen carefully
- Do not judge
- Do not take sides or make assumptions
- Make sure what you ascertain is what the young person meant
An FJYPB member added: “Listen to what I say and what I don’t say.”