Membership Criteria

Platform membership is open to all child participation organisations based in the EU, and their networks of children and teenagers. To become a member of the Platform, your organisation should: 

1. be formally constituted; 
2. be based and operate within EU countries; 
3. promote child participation (all children under 18 years old); 
4. have safeguarding and child protection policies in place; 
5. commit and follow the Platform’s Code of Conduct as well as the EU values. 

For safeguarding reasons, children must join through an officially constituted organisation. This ensures that there is adequate support and relevant safeguards in place at a local or national level.

To join, organisations must involve children in their participation activities and decision-making processes. 

If your organisation has two or more child participation groups, you should register your organisation once, and in the survey, explain that your organisation has additional groups, what they are, and how you work with children. 

If your organisation does not have a child participation group or does not work with children directly and regularly, you can still fill out the registration survey, share your contact details, and tell us about your background and expertise. The registration survey collects children's opinions to ensure they know about the Platform’s activities. 

You will be added to our quarterly newsletter mailing to receive updates on the Platform's development and opportunities for future contributions. 

Please use the child-friendly information sheet, available in 23 languages, to talk about joining the Platform with the children in your organisation.

We require organisations to have safeguarding processes and procedures to ensure that children are always kept safe. This demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to child safety and aligns with our values and Safeguarding Framework. 

It also reassures us that a member organisation can promptly address any safeguarding issues that may arise. Organisations with robust safeguarding processes and procedures help us create a secure environment for children before, during and after their participation in our activities. 

See our safeguarding framework

To apply for membership, you need to complete the registration survey. 

Completing the registration survey is important because it helps us understand your current practices, the groups of children you work with, and the children's views. 

The survey is always open, so you can register at any time.

If you fit any of these categories but are not affiliated with a member organisation, it will not be possible for you to join as a Platform member. 

Instead, we encourage you to sign up for our quarterly newsletter to stay informed about Platform developments.