Article 12 Participation Forum

What is Article 12?

Article 12 is a CAMHS Youth Forum that meets every 5-6 weeks, young people volunteer their time to contribute to the development of Buckinghamshire CAMHS.

The group is passionate about raising awareness of mental health, making things better for future generations and improving the services through various projects.

Young People have the choice of which projects to get involved with and how much time they dedicate to it, with no pressure to join meetings or do projects they are not passionate about.

We use our voices to influence the decision making and innovations for the future of Buckinghamshire CAMHS. We are confident that by working together we can contribute to the success of a county wide service and are united in our purpose to ensure the voices of young people are heard.

The forum provides opportunities to meet other children and young people, gain new skills and qualifications, explore potential careers within health care, and empowers children and young people to share their ideas and work as partners in care to improve the experiences of families and young people within Buckinghamshire CAMHS.

Does being a member of Article 12 mean a young person always has to give  their opinion on every project?

Being a member of Article 12 doesn’t mean young people have to express an opinion if they don’t want to. They can refuse to give their opinion for any reason and they won’t be pressured them into giving an opinion.

Young people have the choice in which projects to get involved and how much time they dedicate to them, with no pressure to join meetings or do projects they are not passionate about.

However, our Participation lead and any other members of the group will consider any potential reasonable adjustments, where necessary, to give all young people the chance to be heard and feel comfortable enough to contribute.

Where are the Article 12 meetings held?

 We have a mixture of face to face and online meetings – but if a meeting is face to face then there will always be the option to join online:

• Every 3 months we have the option to meet face to face but we require a minimum of 3 young people to confirm they will be meeting face to face for it to go ahead
• At the moment our meetings are between 4pm and 6pm on a Thursday.
• We currently have a WhatsApp group where we discuss projects to work on as well as dates and times for next meetings.
• Young people can decide if they want to join or not. If they decide not to join, the Participation lead will always keep them updated via their preferred method of contact so that the young person can still get involved with projects.

Anyone who wants to join the WhatsApp group, has to join a session (either online or face to face) before being added to the group.

Where does the name Article 12 come from?

Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is a core principle and arguably the gateway to all other rights. It sets out the right of the child to be heard, which is simultaneously and safeguarding for children. The interpretation of Article 12 holds great significance as it designates entities subject to fundamental rights enforcement, exclusively against the state. Article 12 also says that the opinions of children and young people should be considered when people make decisions about things that involve them.

• When adults are making decisions that affect children and young people; they should ask them what they think
• Adults should take account of children and young people’s views when making a decision
• Young people should be supported to give their views in a way that is best for them

What should a young person expect when they attend an Article 12 Meeting?

• Usually between 4-6 young people attend each session.
• An agenda will be sent out before each session so that the everyone knows what to expect from the meeting in advance
• The meeting starts with a check in to see how everyone is feeling.
• The meeting will follow the items on the agenda. This usually involves discussing projects that are happening, finding out who wants to be involved in them.
• Sometimes a representative from one of the CAMHS teams will attend the meeting and the group will discuss and work on a particular project with them in the meeting.
• There is no obligation if you are attending a meeting to give your opinion on the items being discussed if it is not something you are interested in or you don’t feel comfortable sharing your opinion.
• If the meeting is face to face then these are usually held at the Sue Nicholls Centre in Aylesbury. However, we sometimes use other venues and any updates to the venue will be shared with the group well in advance of the meeting.

Who can join Article 12?

Any young person who has had lived experience within the last 2 years with Buckinghamshire CAMHS.

Can I leave Article 12 at any point?

Yes, young people can leave Article 12 anytime they feel that it’s the right decision for them.

What happens when my experience goes past the 2 years needed to meet the criteria and I have to leave Article 12?

We want young people to stay involved with the group for as long as possible, but we also need to make sure their experiences with our CAMHS teams are recent enough to keep their feedback relevant. For this reason, membership is limited to two years from a young person’s last CAMHS experience.

When it’s time to leave Article 12, we would have a celebration gathering (this could be online or face to face) and a discussion around further opportunities and what young people would like to do next.

How do I join Article 12?

If you would like to join Article 12, please complete the  Article 12 Joining Form

Our Participation Lead, Roxy Uritescu will make contact with you, once have complete the formed.

However, if you have any questions before filling in the form, contact Roxy Uritescu, Participation Lead ,at roxy.uritescu@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk and you can just have a chat and ask questions about the group.

What are the benefits of joining Article 12?

• Get involved in many different and fun projects
• Engage with a variety of professional and influential people from different organisations
• Provides opportunities to have your voice heard
• Be part of a supportive and valued community
• Meet new people, increasing self-esteem and confidence

• Sense of purpose from helping others and making things better for future generations
• Sense of achievement from taking part and making a difference
• Getting experience and employment skills to add to CVs or job/college application forms
• Some of the projects you participate in can lead to payments in vouchers or to your bank account

What are the rules of the group?

• Understand my rights
• A chance to be involved
• Keep in touch
• Remember – it’s my choice
• Value me
• Work together
• Support me
• Mutual respect for everyone who is involved
• Understanding that people will have different opinion
• Consistent space for young people to express their views

How much of my time will I need to give as a member of Article 12?

We appreciate your time is valuable and so you decide how much you would like to get involved in, it is totally up to you!  However, we want all our members to be actively contributing and involved in the group so we would expect you to attend at least 4 meetings a year.

Who can I contact if I have any questions about the Article 12 group?

If you have any questions about the group, please contact Roxy Uritescu, participation lead at roxy.uritescu@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk