Young people’s advisory groups create a route for children and young people to influence research that affects them. Their contributions can help teams make studies, information and activities more understandable and acceptable.
A young people’s advisory group brings together children and young people who want to discuss and improve health research. Groups may be asked to comment at different stages of a project, from early ideas through to the way findings are shared.
A common task is reviewing participant information. Young advisers can identify language that is difficult to follow, questions that remain unanswered and formats that do not feel appropriate for the intended age group. Their perspective can also help research teams consider what participation may feel like in practice.
The central principle
Involvement should have a clear purpose. Be honest about what the group can influence, give enough information to support a meaningful discussion and report back on the decisions that follow.
What young advisers value
Experience from established groups points to several features that help sessions feel useful and respectful:
- Opportunities to learn about a range of health topics and research questions.
- A clear explanation of why the group’s views are being sought and how they may be used.
- Recognition for time, preparation and contribution, planned in line with relevant involvement guidance.
- Meeting times and arrangements developed with young people and their families, including consideration of travel and competing commitments.
- Appropriate acknowledgement of contributions and a record of the learning gained.
Planning for participation
Attendance and preferred ways of communicating will differ between members. Make room for this variation rather than expecting a single route to work for everyone. Ask young people how they want to receive information, use accessible formats and give enough notice for them to prepare.
Where younger children are involved, communication with parents or carers can support practical arrangements. This should sit alongside direct, age-appropriate communication with the young people themselves.
Design sessions around the group
- Invite young people to influence dates, timings and the structure of meetings.
- Match materials to the ages and experiences of the people reviewing them.
- Allow time for discussion, questions and activities rather than attempting to cover too much.
- Use a mix of methods, including visual material and small-group tasks, instead of relying solely on presentations.
- Build in breaks and social activities where appropriate.
- Use language that is straightforward, respectful and never patronising.
- Gather feedback at the end of sessions and show how it has shaped the next one.
What this can improve
When researchers work with a young people’s advisory group, they can gain practical insight into the clarity of study information, the acceptability of planned activities and aspects of study design that adults may overlook. The group can also help teams test whether research communications are understandable before they are widely used.
For young people, involvement can offer a structured opportunity to learn about research, exchange views with peers and develop communication or collaborative working skills. The value of that experience depends on careful support, realistic expectations and visible feedback about the group’s influence.
Including children and young people early is particularly important when research concerns their health and lives. Their insight is not an add-on: it can help make research questions, processes and outputs more relevant to the people affected.