New Resource Launched to provide guidance on ethical collaboration with children and young people in research

A toolkit developed from insights gathered during a workshop last year will serve as a resource for all those involved in conducting research in collaboration with children and young people.

The toolkit has been developed by the PPI Ignite Network at Dublin City University; Barretstown, and Tusla - Child and Family Agency. It is funded by the Health Research Board and Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland, with co-funding from the seven Universities at the centre of the PPI Ignite Network.

This project stems from a workshop that took place on 30th January 2024, when 55 attendees with a keen interest in doing public and patient involvement (PPI) with children and young people in research, gathered at Barretstown Castle in Co Kildare. On this day, workshop participants shared their diverse and valuable expertise on what ethical collaboration in research with children and young people should look like. The insights were gathered during a series of roundtable discussions following  presentations from experts in the field. 

The result, after a year of dissecting all those invaluable ideas, is this practical toolkit for researchers collaborating with children and young people in research projects, which can be found here.

The launch of this toolkit took place on 30^th January 2025  on what was a lovely, sunny day in Barretstown Camp and proved to be a highly spirited occasion.  The event opened with a welcome from John Mitchell of Barretstown, followed by a detailed presentation of the resource by Prof. Veronica Lambert from the PPI Ignite Network at DCU.

Attendees were full of optimism, thanks in no small part to guest speaker Arthur Isaac, an incredible young person who is an independent children’s rights and youth participation consultant based in Wales. Arthur’s work focuses on advocating for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into policy and practice. In fact, he has been instrumental in Cardiff’s journey to be the UK’s first Child Friendly City, leading on the city’s engagement with under 11s and redeveloping the structure of Cardiff Youth Council.

The event also featured an exciting panel discussion led by Dr. Edel Tierney of Tusla - Child and Family Agency, with expert insights from Dr. Harry Shier, child participation specialist; Dr. Roisin Farragher, policy analyst with Tusla’s National Research Office; and Professor Suzanne Guerin of UCD’s School of Psychology. The panel reflected on the significance of the resource and its future potential.

Attendees engaged in lively icebreaker activities, also led by John Mitchell, helping to create a warm and inclusive atmosphere. These activities not only showcased the toolkit's practical application but also helped foster a welcoming and collaborative environment that reflected the values it promotes.

The event concluded with heartfelt remarks from Marian Brattman, National Manager for Research at Tusla, who extended sincere thanks to all contributors and stakeholders who helped bring the toolkit to life.

This new resource marks a significant milestone in assisting researchers to ensure that the perspectives of children and young people are not only heard but actively shape the research that affects them.

This toolkit is a living document that will continue to evolve with your input. Additional feedback received at the launch has already been embedded into the document, ensuring that the resource reflects the needs and perspectives of those working directly in this space. We warmly invite researchers, practitioners, and organisations to explore the toolkit and share their experiences with us. Whether it’s through feedback, case studies, or reflections on implementation and impact, we aim to add these to the resource—and your contributions will help us keep this resource dynamic and responsive to real-world needs.