The annual Voice of the Child Conference
Our 15th annual Voice of the Child Conference on 31 July
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.
This year's event took place on 31 July 2025 and the theme for the conference was 'Empowering Me for a Better Future.'
The conference was framed around children's understanding, their safety, and their future - not just legal outcomes. It was shaped by the voices of young people with lived experience of family proceedings, ensuring the issues that matter most to them are front and centre.
Voice of the Child Conference Agenda:
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Welcome from FJYPB members plus event information, hearing updates on the FJYPB's recent work and welcoming Cafcass to deliver the event's opening address. A speech on communication, engagement and the need to understand court decisions, which included an FJYPB member sharing their lived experience with an 'In My Shoes' presentation.
11:00 AM – 11:05 AM – Break
11:05 AM – 12:00 PM – Jahnine Davis joined the event to speak on "It's Silent" – Race, Racism and Safeguarding Children. This powerful session explored how racial identity and systemic bias impact safeguarding decisions and children's lived experiences in the family justice system. An FJYPB member included their lived experience, and members shared their presentation on the impact of culture and heritage.
12:00 PM – 12:40 PM – Break
12:40 PM – 1:55 PM – FJYPB members shared their lived experience with an 'In My Shoes' presentation. They then explored what children and young people need to feel safe with the decisions made by the court. Attendees were also invited to join a webinar:
The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory team also spoke on Deprivation of Liberty orders.
1:55 PM – 2:00 PM – Break
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – A formal welcome of the event panellists
- Jacky Tiotto (Cafcass CEO)
- The Honorable Ms Justice Harris (Judiciary)
- Helen Waite OBE (Director, Department for Education)
- Neal Barcoe (Deputy Director - Family Justice Policy Unit, Ministry of Justice)
- Nigel Brown (CEO Cafcass Cymru)
Who Attended?
- Family Court Advisers (FCAs)
- Children's Guardians
- Social Workers
- Legal Professionals
- Foster Carers
- Teachers
- Youth Advocates
- Everyone
Key discussion points on the day:
- Clarifying the Concept: understanding how children experience the advice given to the court and why clarity is essential.
- The Need for Change: learning why it's vital to ensure children understand the decisions being made about them and why they were made and what they mean for their future—and how this supports long-term safety and trust.
- Lived Experience expertise: Hearing directly from young people and professionals about what happens when children are (or aren't) kept at the centre of proceedings.
- Practical Applications: Discussing strategies to improve how you explain, engage, and support children through the family justice process.
Why This Matters:
This session supported the FJYPB's mission to ensure that children are not just part of the process—but at the heart of it. Understanding children's experiences sits within a wider learning journey that also explores how communication and culture shape children's understanding, safety, and sense of belonging throughout family justice proceedings.
Previous Voice of the Child Conferences
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.
This year's conference will be taking place shortly. But here is a brief overview of what last year's event covered.
The Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB) held its last annual Voice of the Child conference on Thursday, 25 July 2024.
The event was held across two livestream sessions and the 2024 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 below by clicking on the titles 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 the 2024 Voice of the Child 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!!!!!"
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.
The 2021 Voice of the Child conference explored the best methods and practice for all family justice professionals and how family justice professionals can best represent the voice of the child in family courts proceedings. It focused on and discussed the needs of children and young people going through the family courts while bringing together over 180 people from across all sections of family justice.
The theme for the 2021 conference – delivered virtually over a series of webinars – was ‘communication’, focusing on how language has a transformational impact on empowering children and giving them a voice in proceedings.
The FJYPB published a summary of the conference webinars in the below:
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.”