In this paper, we present a relational analysis of young people's participation in a six-year research project focused on prevention and early support. With a relational understanding of agency as something evolving and situated, our aim is to explore boundaries of young people's participation in research.

During 2024, eleven young people, aged 13-18, were recruited to share their expertise in receiving support from professionals. We met with the young people between three and ten times each, both individually and in groups. By using methods such as “splots” and “river-of-experience”, we endeavoured to facilitate the young people's articulation of their learnings from their experiences. The results were presented in an audio documentary, performance, and posters.

In retrospect, we reflect upon our unfolding research-agency as facilitators, translators, and censors of the young people's messages to professionals. We also identified inherent tensions in involving young people in research – our efforts to acknowledge the young people’s competence and embrace participation as a relational process were challenged by context and by being one activity within a larger research project, without any power to influence policies or professional practices. We conclude by raising critical questions about involving young people in research to make a difference.