The picture often painted of today's youth is of insolent, gum-chewing adolescents, mobile phone in one hand and computer game in the other. They're seen it all, done it all , wouldn't-be-seen-dead-in-the-T-shirt types who only seem to care about themselves and their friends.

But to stereotype all young people in this way would hardly be fair, as young people today are actually a richly diverse group, more than capable of bringing a fresh, yet informed perspective to any decision-making table. If nothing else they are certainly the experts at being young and understand what that means in the UK, in the 21 st century.

Adults can find it difficult to remember that what children have to say can make a real difference. Do we ever dismiss young people's ideas and assume that our ‘adult' view is better?

A new report, called “Seen and Heard 2”, demonstrates the benefits of listening to children and young people. The report, now in its second year, has already proved hugely successful in drawing public attention to what can happen as a result of young people's ideas being heard and acted upon. This year's report is a collection of 15 case studies, which shows young people from across the UK speaking up on topics from bullying to sex education, from transport to foster care, and from youth crime to better policing.

With more and more children and young people coming forward with their stories, the ‘Seen and Heard 2' report, produced by BT in conjunction with the UK Youth Parliament, is evidence of the positive role young people can play in their local communities when they succeed in making their voices heard – often against the odds.

The case studies illustrate the wide range of interests that young people have and the diverse areas where they can make a valuable contribution. One pupil worked with his friends to become Children's Rights Champions and set out to promote awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child throughout the school. Their work led them to the House of Lords where they made a presentation about their work and ended up quizzing Education Secretary Charles Clarke on what efforts the UK Government is making to improve children's rights worldwide.

Another young campaigner set about changing perceptions of young people in her area and eventually found herself discussing national youth issues with Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street. Collected together, these examples illustrate the importance of not only listening to young people but also acting upon what is heard.

To learn more about the case studies and their accomplishments visit www.bt.com/listening