YOUNG PEOPLE "HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD"

So says a Government report. But, as the report goes on to say, "their voices are easily marginalised....hearing children's voices is a minority activity".

We want to change that.

We want YOUNG PEOPLE who are in the middle of family separation to be able to hear from other young people who have been there.

We also want PARENTS to see what these young people have to say. We know from research that it helps parents when they see the perspective of kids in the middle.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE?

Do it ANY WAY YOU LIKE!

• a text or poem or song or letter (anything!)
• an audio clip
• a short video

Then simply send it to us by email.

THEN GET A FRIEND TO ENTER TOO.

WHAT THEN?

A panel of judges made up of young people and the family lawyers and mediators who support us will judge the best material.

IF YOU WIN, WE WILL SEND YOU A PRIZE OF £50.

SOMETHING FOR MUMS AND DADS

We will build a new section on this website FOR PARENTS, which tells them the story of young people, using your material.

We will show them how some family lawyers and mediators work directly with the kids in the middle to make sure they are a full part of the discussion about the future. We will send young reporters to these family lawyers and mediators to interview them and film their work.

MANAGING YOUR IDENTITY

If your material identifies who you are and you are 16 or under, we do have to contact both your parents to ask if it is OK before publishing it. If you don't think this will be possible and you really want to create something, please hide your identity. We can help with that in the editing too - just ask!

WHAT A CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER SAID

“Usually the focus is on the parents and too often the children and young people are overlooked. It’s time we were more conscious of children and young people’s perspective in this. For that reason I wholeheartedly support Kids in the Middle’s campaign.”

Tam Baillie, Children’s Commissioner in Scotland