Time period
Empowering Young Voices: The Children and Teenagers’ Westside Plan with Shetland Islands Council
- U.K Shetland (Scotland)
Summary
The Children and Teenagers’ Westside Plan (Shetland Islands) is a youth led placemaking initiative developed by A place in childhood (APIC) and Shetland Islands Council to embed children’s perspectives into community planning. Through a co creation approach, young people participated in mapping exercises, discussions, and creative workshops to articulate their experiences, needs, and aspirations for their local environments.
Positioned as experts of their own everyday lives, children and teenagers identified key priorities, including safer active travel routes, improved public transport, more inclusive social and play spaces, and stronger environmental action.
The resulting plan provides actionable insights that directly inform local and national strategies, demonstrating how youth engagement can strengthen decision making across planning, health, and community development.
By shifting power towards young people and integrating their voices into long term governance, the project offers a scalable model for inclusive, place based planning, supporting more liveable, equitable, and child friendly communities.
Key aspects
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Youth led planning
Engages children and teenagers in shaping the Westside Plan through mapping, workshops, and discussions. -
Co creation Framework
Applies a structured method that systematically integrates young people’s perspectives into planning. -
Embedded in governance and policy
Feeds into local and national strategies, ensuring institutional relevance and impact. -
Focus on everyday mobility and livability
Reflects youth priorities such as active travel, public transport, social spaces, and sustainability. -
Capacity building and scaling
Extends training across Scotland, enabling wider adoption of youth inclusive planning practices.