Plan UK's Children's Advisory Panel

Children have ideas, experience and, needless to say, know about childhood better than adults which means that their input can help Plan to better understand how to work with the young people whose lives it aims to improve.

As a child-centred organisation, it makes sense that we ask children what they think as only children are experts in their own lives.

What is CAP’s role within Plan UK?

CAP's mission statement reads:

“We are here to inform and raise awareness about the issues surrounding children, about Plan and its work and about what can be done to change things in the world. We also need to teach ourselves about the issues surrounding children and about Plan and its work.”

Similar Children’s Boards exist in eight other countries – Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the USA.

CAP member making notebooks

How does this work?

CAP is currently a group of nine members from all over the UK aged 12–17. We have on board six girls and three boys: Alia, Amba, Durgha, Elly, Katie, Kurtis, Maurice, Nia & Olivia.

Every 2–3 months Plan meets with the CAP members and chats with them about issues Plan is working on. It’s a great opportunity to hear young people’s views on what we are doing, and how they think we could improve our work to help their peers all over the world.

It’s also a key opportunity for young people to put forward their concerns, hopes and aspirations about global issues so that we can listen, respond and support them to have their opinions heard.