I was heartened by your report on the research by PACT highlighting the importance of taking the views of children and young people with disabilities into account in services that are delivered to them (Evening Press, March 29).

Your editorial comment Put Children First refers also to the NSPCC Full Stop Campaign and reminds us that children have a right to speak for themselves.

Your readers may be interested to know that the key statutory and voluntary agencies in York that provide services for children in need are also keen to learn about the experiences of children and young people of the services they have received, so that they can be improved.

They are funding a research project, being carried out by this department, to talk to children and young people who have received services in the last three years. We are delighted that a number of shops and leisure amenities in York have provided gift vouchers to be given to families who take part and would like to take this opportunity of thanking them.

Dr Margaret Bell,

Department of Social Policy and Social Work,

University of York.

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