Young people meeting judges: What can we learn from a pilot with young people in care proceedings?

Dr Rebecca Jones, Hayley Pert, Professor Clive Diaz, David Westlake

Summary

The Young People’s Participation Pathway (YPPP) report from the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory evaluates a pilot initiative aimed at enhancing the direct involvement of children and young people in care proceedings. Traditionally, children’s voices in family courts are expressed indirectly through professionals, meaning many young people feel excluded from decisions about their futures. The YPPP sought to address this participation gap by offering structured opportunities for young people to meet regularly with the judge making decisions in their case, supported by preparatory materials designed to help them articulate their views.

Grounded in qualitative evidence from the pilot, the report examines how direct judicial engagement affects young people’s experiences of care proceedings. Many participants described feeling more heard and understood, greater clarity about legal processes and reduced anxiety, with some reporting positive effects on wellbeing. The findings also highlight how personal interactions with judges challenged young people’s preconceptions, fostered trust and sometimes resulted in small but meaningful changes to arrangements.

Alongside these benefits, the report considers practical and systemic challenges — including professional reservations, the need for clearer role boundaries, inconsistent involvement of guardians, and organisational barriers to wider implementation. It outlines recommendations to support meaningful participation, emphasising that direct engagement must be accompanied by appropriate judicial training, documentation tools and cross-agency coordination if it is to be embedded sustainably within family justice practice.