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The annual Voice of the Child Conference

FJYPB group characters

Join us at 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.

The theme for this year's conference is Empowering Me for a Better Future and this virtual event will take place on 31 July 2025, from 10am to 15:00

The conference is framed around children's understanding, their safety, and their future - not just legal outcomes. This has been 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 Agenda: 

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Welcome from FJYPB members plus event information, hear updates on our recent work and we will welcome Cafcass to deliver our opening address. Then we will focus on communication, engagement and the need to understand court decisions, which will include 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 will join us to speak on "It's Silent" – Race, Racism and Safeguarding Children. This powerful session will explore how racial identity and systemic bias impact safeguarding decisions and children's lived experiences in the family justice system. An FJYPB member will include their lived experience, and we will share our presentation on the impact of culture and heritage.

12:00 PM – 12:40 PM – Break

12:40 PM – 1:55 PM – Welcome back, FJYPB member sharing their lived experience with an 'In My Shoes' presentation. We will be exploring what children and young people need to feel safe with the decisions made by the court. Attendees will also be invited to join our webinar:

Nuffield speaking on Deprivation of Liberty orders

1:55 PM – 2:00 PM – Break

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – We are excited to welcome our panelists  

 

  • Jacky Tiotto (Cafcass CEO)
  • A member of the Judiciary
  • Helen Waite OBE (Director, DfE)
  • A member of the MoJ
  • Nigel Brown (CEO Cafcass Cymru)

 

Who Should Attend? 
  • Family Court Advisers (FCAs)
  • Children's Guardians
  • Social Workers
  • Legal Professionals
  • Foster Carers
  • Teachers
  • Youth Advocates
  • Everyone 
What You'll Learn: 
  • Clarifying the Concept: understand how children experience the advice given to the court and why clarity is essential.
  • The Need for Change: learn 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: Hear directly from young people and professionals about what happens when children are (or aren't) kept at the centre of proceedings.
  • Practical Applications: Walk away with strategies to improve how you explain, engage, and support children through the family justice process. 
Why This Matters: 

This session supports 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. 

How to Register for the 2025 Voice of the Child Conference: 

Register now to be part of a vital conversation that puts children's voices, safety, and futures at the centre of family justice. 

If you have any accessibility requirements or questions, please contact us at FJYPB@cafcass.gov.uk 

Previous Voice of the Child Conferences