Running across two days our programme includes 5 keynotes, more than 25 workshops, networking opportunities, and a panel on stigma within systems. See below for the details across the two days.
Need to figure out how to get to the conference? Check out our venue page here. Need tickets? Head back to the hub mainpage to buy them.
Day One
9am – 9:30am
Registration
Main lobby, Ballroom foyer, Cambridge suite (exhibition hall)
Tea & coffee available,
exhibition hall open
Main lobby, Ballroom foyer,
Cambridge suite (exhibition hall)
9:35am – 10:15am
Welcome
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Welcome from our co-chairs and Children in Scotland's Chief Executive.
Adult co-chair: Nicola Killean, Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
Young person co-chair: TBA
Children in Scotland Chief Executive: Judith Turbyne
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Adult co-chair: Nicola Killean, Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
Young person co-chair: Shaun, Changing Our World
Children in Scotland Chief Executive: Judith Turbyne
10:15am – 10:45am
Keynote
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Keeping the Promise by 2030 – what needs to happen now?
Fraser McKinlay, Chief Executive Officer of The Promise Scotland
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Fraser McKinlay, Chief Executive Officer of The Promise Scotland
The year 2025 marks the midpoint to keep the promise that was made in 2020, that all children in Scotland grow up loved, safe and respected and are able to fulfil their potential. Plan 24-30 sets out clearly where Scotland needs to be by 2030 to ensure that the promise is kept. So, with just over five years to go, what needs to happen now? Fraser will touch on some of the great work that is happening across the country; highlight some of the things that are getting in the way; and outline what needs to happen now and in the future.
11:10am – 12:20pm
Workshop Session 1
click the workshop title for the description
access a map of the space here
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Kibble
Ellisand Suite
Workshop B: Forces Children Scotland
“It's not just their job, it's our whole lives”: Armed Forces life through a children's rights lens
Ellisand Suite
Forces Children Scotland
Clarinda Suite
Workshop C: Rock Trust
A brighter future: Working together to end youth homelessness in Scotland
Clarinda Suite
Rock Trust
Alloway Suite
Clued Up Project
Bearsden Suite (upstairs)
Workshop E: Road Safety Scotland
Incorporating road safety into the curriculum and everyday life
Bearsden Suite
(upstairs)
Road Safety Scotland
Scott Suite (upstairs)
Workshop F: No Knives, Better Lives, a programme run by YouthLink Scotland
Supporting children and young people to navigate social media risks
Scott Suite
(upstairs)
No Knives, Better Lives, a programme run by YouthLink Scotland
1:20pm – 1:45pm
Keynote
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
The power of music and positive mental health
Dr. Vanessa Collingridge, broadcaster, writer & coach
archie, musician, artist & producer
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Dr. Vanessa Collingridge, broadcaster, writer & coach
archie, musician, artist & producer
This keynote will be co-delivered by 21-year-old Scottish singer-songwriter, archie, and Dr Vanessa Collingridge, broadcaster and writer. Accompanied with a musical performance, archie will share his lived experience of the interrelationship between his music and mental health.
Vanessa, archie’s mother, will speak from a parent’s point of view about the link between music and mental health with archie and his brothers. Vanessa will also speak about her own experience using different types of music as powerful motivators in her work in TV/Radio programmes & leadership coaching – and also to get the boring administration/domestic tasks done!
1:45pm – 2:30pm
Panel
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Words matter: the impact of stigma on children and young people
Moderator: Claire O'Hara, Programme Director, Each and Every Child
Panelists:
– James Docherty, Project Manager, Scottish Violence Reduction Unit; Advisor, Community Justice Scotland
– Stevan Sutherland, Team Leader, CluedUp project
– Millicent Wenlock; Chair of The Care Experienced Movement
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Moderator: Claire O'Hara, Programme Director, Each and Every Child
Panelists:
– James Docherty | Project Manager, Scottish Violence Reduction Unit; Advisor, Community Justice Scotland
– Stevan Sutherland | Team Leader, CluedUp project
– Millicent Wenlock | Chair of The Care Experienced Movement
2:50pm – 4pm
Workshop Session 2
click the workshop title for the description
access a map of the space here
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Workshop A: ...with kids
“That meltdown came out of nowhere!”: When safe becomes scary
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
With Kids
Ellisand Suite
Workshop B: The Open University & Highland One World
Children’s ‘Artivism’ for developing intergenerational climate change conversations
Ellisand Suite
The Open University & Highland One World
Clarinda Suite
Workshop C:
Supporting grieving children and young people
Workshop C: Child Bereavement UK
Supporting grieving children and young people
Clarinda Suite
Child Bereavement UK
Alloway Suite
Workshop D: Scottish Families Affected By Alcohol & Drugs
Working with children & young people affected by someone else's substance use
Alloway Suite
Scottish Families Affected By Alcohol & Drugs
Bearsden Suite (upstairs)
Bearsden Suite
(upstairs)
Parkrun
Scott Suite (upstairs)
Scott Suite
(upstairs)
See Me
4pm – 4:40pm
Conclusion Day 1
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
A few words from our co-chairs and ourselves
Adult co-chair: Nicola Killean
Young person co-chair: TBA
Children in Scotland Chief Executive: Judith Turbyne
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Adult co-chair: Nicola Killean, Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
Young person co-chair: Shaun, Changing Our World
Children in Scotland Chief Executive: Judith Turbyne
Day Two
9am – 9:30am
Registration
Main lobby, Ballroom foyer, Cambridge suite (exhibition hall)
Tea & coffee available,
exhibition hall open
Main lobby, Ballroom foyer,
Cambridge suite (exhibition hall)
9:35am – 9:55am
Welcome
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Welcome from our co-chairs and Children in Scotland's Chief Executive.
Adult co-chair: Fiona Duncan, Independent Strategic Advisor of The Promise and Chair of the Board of Directors
Young person co-chair: Abbie Rose, Changing Our World
Children in Scotland Chief Executive: Judith Turbyne
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Adult co-chair: Fiona Duncan, Independent Strategic Advisor of The Promise and Chair of the Board of Directors
Young person co-chair: Abbie Rose, Changing Our World
Children in Scotland Chief Executive: Judith Turbyne
9:55am – 10:05am
Keynote
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Reflections on five years of The Promise and look ahead to 2030
Natalie Don-Innes, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Natalie Don-Innes, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise
Minister Don-Innes will reflect on what progress has been made in the first five years since The Promise was made, focussing on key achievements and successes. It will also be an opportunity to look ahead and identify key activity that will be vital going forward in ensuring that The Promise is kept by 2030.
10:05am – 10:20am
Reflections on day one
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Adult co-chair: Fiona Duncan, Independent Strategic Advisor of The Promise and Chair of the Board of Directors
Young person co-chair: TBA
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Adult co-chair: Fiona Duncan, Independent Strategic Advisor of The Promise and Chair of the Board of Directors
Young person co-chair: Abbie Rose, Changing Our World
10:20am – 10:40am
Keynote
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Making children’s rights real: Building a Scotland of happiness, love, and understanding
Juliet Harris, Director of Together
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Juliet Harris, Director of Together
The UNCRC is now part of Scots law—but the real challenge is making it work in practice. Now we must turn commitment into action. Incorporation is a tool that must be actively used - a foundation for progress, a driver of accountability, and the glue that holds our commitment to children together.
At a time of squeezed budgets and shifting global attitudes, protecting and advancing children’s rights is more important than ever. Juliet will explore how we, as a sector, can work alongside children and young people to ensure that every baby, child, and young person in Scotland grows up with their rights respected, protected, and fulfilled. She will challenge us to think about what we can do—individually and collectively—to deliver the meaningful change needed to build a Scotland where all children grow up in an atmosphere of happiness, love, and understanding.
11am – 12pm
Workshop Session 3
click the workshop title for the description
access a map of the space here
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Workshop A: Chose Play and Thrive Outdoors
Building inclusive outdoor community play across Scotland for families with children with additional support needs
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Chose Play and Thrive Outdoors
Ellisand Suite
Workshop B: #E Project (Adoption UK in Scotland)
Together we can: #Engage #Empower #Educate #Evolve #Employability Matters
Ellisand Suite
#E Project (Adoption UK in Scotland)
Clarinda Suite
Workshop C: University of St Andrews
Amplifying Young Voices: Co-producing research with children
Clarinda Suite
University of St Andrews
Alloway Suite
Workshop D: Language Leaders
“Is that really all I am?” Exploring labels and language use
Alloway Suite
Language Leaders
Bearsden Suite (upstairs)
Workshop E: Safe, Strong & Free
A culture of kindness and inclusion: Practical approaches to preventing and addressing bullying
Bearsden Suite
(upstairs)
Safe Strong & Free
Scott Suite (upstairs)
Workshop F: Multi-Cultural Family Base
Using the microphone as a third object: Important conversations and audio recording
Scott Suite
(upstairs)
Multi-Cultural Family Base
1pm – 2pm
Workshop Session 4
click the workshop title for the description
access a map of the space here
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Workshop A:
Learning for Sustainability in early years
Workshop A: West Lothian College
Learning for Sustainability in early years
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
West Lothian College
Ellisand Suite
Scottish Mediation
Clarinda Suite
Workshop C: Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
Poverty’s impact on young people’s right to education
Clarinda Suite
Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
Bearsden Suite (upstairs)
Workshop E: Tri.x
Evolving digital landscapes: supporting children and young people
Bearsden Suite
(upstairs)
Tri.x
Scott Suite (upstairs)
Workshop F: Enquire
Care experience + education: navigating children’s rights at school with Enquire
Scott Suite
(upstairs)
Enquire
2:10pm – 2:40pm
Keynote
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Stories that shape us: the transformative power of our voices
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Nadine Aisha Jassat, author and creative practitioner
Nadine Aisha Jassat is an author and creative practitioner who has worked with young people across the UK and internationally, often exploring the intersection of storytelling and social justice. In this keynote, she will delve into the transformative power of our voices and the significance of representation. Nadine will share personal readings that reflect her journey and encourage delegates to reflect on their own values and stories through a creative lens.
3pm – 4pm
Workshop Session 5
click the workshop title for the description
access a map of the space here
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
Workshop A: Cyrenians – Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution
Learning to surf: What SCCR and Cyrenian’s Young Ambassadors want you to know about mental health
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Cyrenians – Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution
Ellisand Suite
Kibble
Clarinda Suite
Workshop C: Edinburgh International Book Festival
Sharing the power of books for children with PMLD with PAMIS
Clarinda Suite
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Alloway Suite
Workshop D: Midlothian Sure Start
Storytelling for emotional intelligence and well-being
Alloway Suite
Midlothian Sure Start
Bearsden Suite (upstairs)
Workshop E: Healthy Respect, NHS Lothian
Realising the rights of young people with additional support needs to access sex and relationship information
Bearsden Suite
(upstairs)
Healthy Respect, NHS Lothian
4:10pm – 4:40pm
Conclusion Day 2
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite (main hall)
A few words from our co-chairs and ourselves
Adult co-chair: Fiona Duncan, Independent Strategic Advisor of The Promise and Chair of the Board of Directors
Young person co-chair: TBA
Children in Scotland Chief Executive: Judith Turbyne
Lord Provost + Imperial Suite
(main hall)
Adult co-chair: Fiona Duncan, Independent Strategic Advisor of The Promise and Chair of the Board of Directors
Young person co-chair: Abbie Rose, Changing Our World
Children in Scotland Chief Executive: Judith Turbyne