Children in Scotland’s Annual Conference 2026

We welcomed a diverse group of speakers in 2026 including our chairs:

• John McKendrick, Professor at Glasgow School for Business and Society, Glasgow Caledonian University
• Byron, Young Person Advisor, Changing our World
• Lynne O’Brien, Chief Officer for Children and Families, Aberlour
• Liam, Young Person Advisor, Changing our World

Three young people from the Trans Rights, Voices Unheard and Mental Health Youth Commissions at LGBT Youth Scotland who have asked not to be named (but were incredible!) spoke about their experiences as young LGBTQ+ young people in Scotland.

Fiona McKenzie, Founder and CEO at CentreStage Communities, OBE FRSA spoke alongside Scott McCarroll, Community Development Coach, CentreStage Communities and Writer about resilience and transformation.

Joanna Macdonald, National Chief Social Work Advisor spoke directly to the impact of GIRFEC over the last 20 Years – and the way forward. She was joined by the new Minister for Children and Young People of Scotland, Siobhian Brown.

Twenty amazing workshops, with voices from 33 organisations, were held with 70% delivered and/or co-produced by children and young people. Each workshop delved into at least one of the eight SHANARRI wellbeing indicators (Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible, and Included). We also focused on choosing workshops that highlighted CoW’s ‘hot topics’ including the environment, education, and inclusion. We also kept in mind their ideal workshop criteria and they chose 1 workshop on each day as well.

CPAG in Scotland, Fife Gingerbread, Mental Health Foundation, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, Alcohol Focus Scotland, Kibble, Scottish Adoption & Fostering, Scottish Book Trust, National Leadership Network, Staf, Youth Justice Voices, My Rights My Say, Peeple, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Sanquhar Academy, Odd Citizen Comics, Sight Scotland, Salvesen Mindroom, Mindroom Neuropoint, Inspiring Scotland, Actify, Care & Learning Alliance, Young Person’s Organising and Campaigning Group, Stromness Academy, Orkney Islands Council, University of Dundee, Cyrenians SCCR, LGBT Youth Scotland, Rock Trust, Minus Violence, Fischy Music, St. David’s R.C. Primary School, and Connected Beginnings.

Youth Justice Voices from Staf & Youth Justice Voices – Slides | Video

Breaking barriers: gathering the views of children with complex needs from My Rights, My Say – Slides

Learning together: building healthy, connected communities from Peeple, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, and Sanquhar Academy – Slides | Video

A play neighbourhood approach from Inspiring Scotland from Inspiring Scotland, Actify, and the Care & Learning Alliance – Slides

Home-grown solutions? Navigating out-of-the-ordinary transitions into secondary school from Stromness Academy, Orkney Islands Council, and the University of Dundee – Isles Transitions Project Resources

Emotions and the Brain: teen takeover edition from Cyrenians SCCR – Slides

Feedback… Say it like a leader from Connected Beginnings – Slides

African Adventures, The Anchor, 50 Things to Do Before You’re Five, Braw Talent, Carers Trust, Changing Our World, Craighalbert, Fast Forward, Geco Connect Ltd, Harmeny Education Trust, The Indigo Childcare Group, Mellow Parenting, Moore House Group, Open University in Scotland, Outcomes Star, OxEd & Assessment, Pebbles Care, Peeple, Public Health Scotland, Randstad, Respectme, Restraint Reduction Network, Richmond’s Hope, Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Government (GIRFEC), Scottish Social Services Council, Supporting the Third Sector

Clearcare | Kibble | Road Safety Scotland