Annual Conference 2026: Programme

Two full days of workshops, speakers, and networking.
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Day One

8:30am Registration Opens

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9:00am Welcome

Hear from our co-chairs, John McKendrick and Byron, and Children in Scotland’s Chief Execuitive, Dr Judith Turbyne.

9:45am
What comes next? Creating change with confidence

Laura Anderson, Campaigner, Environmental Scientist, and Ethical Influencer
Laura Anderson (@LessWasteLaura) brings her experience as an environmental campaigner to explore how positive change grows from creativity, collaboration and hope. Sharing stories from her work inspiring collective action, she highlights how imaginative approaches can empower us all to shape the world around us. This presentation will highlight the power of listening to children and young people, nurturing their ideas, and building communities where everyone can feel safe, healthy, supported and active, reminding us that change is not only possible, but ours to lead.

Tea & coffee break
Visit our exhibitors before your first workshop of the day!
10:30am Workshop Session One
Pre-register for your workshops to guarantee a seat in your first choice!
  • Stamping out stereotypes: talking about poverty with children and young people
    Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, Cost of the School Day Voice
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  • Hopeopoly
    Fife Gingerbread
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  • Liminal: finding comfort in the in-between
    Mental Health Foundation, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital charity, Lou Fraser – Artist and facilitator
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  • Alcohol-free childhood: exploring the right to a childhood free from alcohol marketing
    Alcohol Focus Scotland
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12pm Lunch & Networking
1:30pm Workshop Session Two
Pre-register for your workshops to guarantee a seat in your first choice!
  • Title TBA
    Kibble
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  • What Matters to Me: digital storytelling with adopted young people
    Scottish Adoption & Fostering, The Scottish Book Trust
    Read more
  • Shifting from co-production to production: insights on participation
    The National Leadership Network
  • Youth Justice Voices
    Staf, Youth Justice Voices
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Tea & coffee break
Visit our exhibitors before your workshop!

3:25pm Keynote

Speaker TBC.

Raffle

4:10pm Conference close

Day Two

8:30am Registration Opens

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9:00am Welcome

Hear from our co-chairs to start the day.

9:40am Keynote

Fiona McKenzie, Founder and CEO at CentreStage Communities, OBE FRSA
Scott, writer
Details to Come

Tea & coffee break
Visit our exhibitors before your first workshop of the day!
10:30am Workshop Session Three
Pre-register for your workshops to guarantee a seat in your first choice!
  • Breaking barriers: gathering the views of children with complex needs
    My Rights My Say
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  • Learning together: building healthy, connected communities
    Peeple, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway – Sanquhar Academy
    Read more
  • Unseen stories: creative expression through inclusive comics
    Odd Citizen Comics, Sight Scotland
    Read more
  • It takes all kinds of minds: an interactive workshop exploring the neurodivergent experience
    Salvesen Mindroom Centre, Neuropoint
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11:40am Workshop Session Four
Pre-register for your workshops to guarantee a seat in your first choice!
  • A play neighbourhood approach from Inspiring Scotland
    Inspiring Scotland, Care & Learning Alliance (CALA), Under The Trees, Actify
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  • Challenging stigma: children’s rights in action
    Young People’s Organising and Campaigning Group, Children’s Rights Team (Aberdeenshire)
    Read more
  • Home-grown solutions? Navigating out-of-the-ordinary transitions into secondary school
    Stromness Academy, Orkney Islands Council, University of Dundee
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  • Emotions and the Brain: teen takeover edition
    Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution (SCCR), Cyrenians
    Read more
12:40pm Lunch & Networking

2:00pm Keynote

Joanna MacDonald, National Chief Social Work Advisor
Details to come.

Tea & coffee break
Visit our exhibitors before your workshop!
3pm Workshop Session Five
Pre-register for your workshops to guarantee a seat in your first choice!
  • Pride and places: empowering LGBTQ+ young people to know their housing rights
    LGBT Youth Scotland, Rock Trust
    Read more
  • Gaming, blaming and shaming
    Minus Violence
    Read more
  • Lullabies and anthems: using the everyday power of songs to nurture and empower children
    Fischy Music, St David’s R.C. Primary (Edinburgh)
    Read more
  • Feedback… Say it like a leader
    Connected Beginnings
    Read more

4:00pm Conference end

Sponsors
Clearcare
Clearcare provides all the tools you need to manage your children’s setting in one complete software solution, without the hassle of multiple and expensive licenses.
Road Safety Scotland
Road Safety Scotland (RSS) has responsibility for road safety learning and publicity. The foundation for all RSS activity is a commitment to the use of analysis and evidence, and RSS has been at the forefront of driving an evidence-informed approach to road safety learning and publicity in Scotland.
Kibble
Kibble is a leading, specialist child and youth care charity that supports at-risk children and young people (age 5+) across the UK. Many of the young people Kibble cares for have experienced significant challenges in their lives, often due to trauma and/or adversity.
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