Research - paying participant expenses and compensating for time: guidance

8. Children and Young People

If you are engaging with children and young people, you will need to consider the age of your participants and the extent to which it is appropriate or possible to recognise their contribution financially. Especially for younger children (e.g. those under 11), it is important that we do not restrict forms of recognition or reward to adult understandings of value. If young people are taking on a comparable role as an adult, payment should be considered in addition to other forms of recognition.

You should aim to design research and engagements that provide a range of types of recognition:

• have a clear feedback loop and demonstrate to participants that they have made a difference
• ensure that participants have a high quality experience
• include fun and rewarding methods like gamification and opportunities to socialise and meet new people
• offer financial recognition
• offer accreditation or similar formal recognition that could have educational or other benefits, for example a Participative Democracy Certificate

Discussing with participants and/or parents, carers or guardians what forms of recognition are most appropriate demonstrates that their views are valued and that you are giving careful consideration to how to recognise that value.

The Children and Young People’s Participation Framework Agreement, listed on Public Contracts Scotland, will provide useful information on the process of engaging with children and young people and offers an efficient and quality assured route to procuring this work.

You may also find it useful to consult FAQ 12 of the Scottish Youth Parliament’s guidance on meaningful participation with young people.

If you decide to make bank transfer or voucher payments to compensate young people for their time, use the guide payment rates set out in this document. If you are making a payment to a parent, carer or guardian’s bank account, you may need to consider possible impact on benefits they may claim. Section 12 contains further information on this.