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Young people call on the new government to put youth voices at heart of policy-making, as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award shares new research

25 Jul 2024

Young people from The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) are calling on the new government to back a Youth Pledge, committing to give young people a meaningful say on policies that affect them, as new research from the charity shows young people feel politicians don’t listen to their views or share their priorities.

Published on Tuesday, 23 July, the DofE Youth Voices 2024 study sought views on the political and personal issues that matter most to young people aged 14 to 24, and found that housing, the NHS, cost of living and mental health ranked highest among respondents.

However, young people also felt these areas are considered least important by political leaders, and 66% said they believe politicians in the UK are most likely to listen to those aged over 35.

And with just 22% of respondents agreeing with the phrase “politicians in the UK listen to people of my age”, DofE Award holders personally delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street to call on the new government and parliamentarians to respond to the disconnect and disillusion felt by many young people.

The letter called for MPs to back a Youth Pledge, which outlines a commitment to introduce a clear process to ensure that youth voices are factored into all levels of policy and decision-making over the coming years.

A diverse group of young people stand outside in a group, laughing and smiling together
L-R: Young people Yahya, Connor, Fiza, Jess, who are doing their DofE Award

Poppy, 19, a Bronze, Silver, and Gold DofE Award holder, who was among the group of young people delivering the letter to Number 10, said: “For too long, young people like me have been shut out of the conversation and having our views overlooked by adults who are making decisions that will affect the rest of our lives. Our views and experiences matter too, and politicians can learn from what we have to say.

“As a new government takes office, they have a fresh opportunity to reassure young people that they are listening to our hopes, concerns and priorities. Policy makers must consult us on decisions that affect us. We are the future of this country and we deserve a seat at the table.”

Ruth Marvel OBE, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: “Our findings clearly show that young people are ambitious for their own futures, but they continue to feel unheard and unsupported on the issues that will define their lives and careers.

“The new government must use this moment to acknowledge that disconnect and prove they’re listening by giving young people meaningful opportunities to be consulted on policy decisions that affect them, including through youth networks, youth-led organisations, the UK Youth Parliament and local youth partnerships and policy networks.

"Young people are this country’s future and should have a say on decisions that will fundamentally impact the rest of their lives.”

To read the Youth Voices 2024 report in full, click here to visit dofe.org/YouthVoices2024

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One Parent Families Scotland invites supporters to “share your voice” ahead of milestone anniversary

17 Jul 2024

One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) has invited supporters to help mark the charity’s 80th anniversary by sharing how its vital support services have made an impact.

Celebrating the incredible work that OPFS has accomplished over the past eight decades, single parents, staff members, volunteers and all other supporters who have worked with the charity are encouraged to share personal anecdotes, milestone moments, heartfelt messages, photographs and poems.

The charity, which has been changing lives and challenging poverty since 1944, said: “We warmly invite you to help us celebrate our legacy by sharing the stories that have shaped OPFS into the organisation it is today. We’d also love to hear stories from single parents of all ages, spanning as many decades as possible!

“By celebrating the incredible work that OPFS has accomplished over the years, your story can inspire others to join our mission for a Scotland where single parents and their children are valued and treated equally and fairly.”

Open for submissions until 31 July 2024, shared photos and stories will be used to build a brand-new page on the charity’s website, which will highlight the vast and varied work OPFS has done to empower single-parent families to reach their full potential.

To take part and share your story, click here to visit One Parent Families Scotland’s website

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Children in Scotland launches two new eLearning modules to support practitioners and young people through trauma

17 Jul 2024

Children in Scotland has today added two new courses to its dynamic eLearning Hub, providing innovative opportunities for both practitioners and children and young people to better understand trauma and its impacts.

Available for free as part of the charity’s commitment to supporting the children’s sector, the new programmes build upon the “More Than My Trauma” partnership and international conference, which was first delivered in 2021, and provide accessible information and guidance crafted by leading experts in the field.

Designed to support practitioners who work with children and young people experiencing trauma, the Recognising and supporting vicarious trauma course explores how working in the children's sector can impact mental health, and provides pratical advice and strategies to support workers with their own wellbeing while fulfilling their role.

From burnout to compassion fatigue, the course touches on a range of topics, and will be beneficial to professionals from a range of backgrounds.

Psychotherapist, consultant and coach Jan Montgomery, who helped to design the course, explained: “I was happy to provide the content for this eLearning module because it is important for everyone who provides support to understand how that work may be impacting them.

“If we understand this at a personal, professional and organisation level, we are less likely to be negatively impacted and more likely to be able to bring our best, most authentic self to work and thrive in our lives.”

An image of a pinboard with different pieces of paper and photographs pinned to it.
Let's talk trauma: preview of the module's learning pathway

Created specifically with children and young people in mind, Let's talk trauma: a guide for young people and professionals, is a vital resource for professionals and young people to work through together. The psychoeducation content for this module was developed by trauma experts from Kibble (click here for more), in collaboration with Children in Scotland, and explores how trauma can affect everyone's brains and bodies differently.

Dan Johnson, Clinical Director at Kibble, said: "We were really keen to develop this module as we knew there was a surprising lack of free and quality resources like it. Having something that can help explain what trauma is – and in a way that young people can respond to – can be invaluable. Hopefully it will increase understanding and be a small yet important part of young people recovering. It has been a pleasure to work alongside Children in Scotland and shows what can be achieved through collaboration".

Marie Harrison, Senior Policy Officer (Children’s Rights) for My Rights, My Say, said: “It has been a pleasure to be involved in the development of this eLearning course. Our Service teams work alongside children and young people who have experienced trauma, and we know how important it is for them to have relatable, clear, meaningful information and support available.

“With this module, we hope that children and young people who have experienced trauma will gain a sense that they are not alone, and that their feelings and emotions are valid. Trauma can be a difficult thing to talk about and many children tell us that ‘it isn’t a big deal’ or ‘I’ll get over it somehow’ or ‘it’s only what I deserve’, so we hope this amazing resource will allow children and young people to open up conversations and discuss their worries, fears and hopes for the future, supported by people close to them.”

Encouraging young people and practitioners to identify ways to cope with and recover from trauma, as part of the course, Children in Scotland’s Services team created “characters” from a composite of children and young people’s experiences, which were then voiced by actors from the Theatre School of Scotland (click here for more).

Marie added: “It was important for us to work on the character development for this module – we wanted the characters to be relatable and, as far as possible, representative of some of the different types of trauma children and young people can experience. We wanted to make sure that the characters amplify and highlight the truth about trauma – that all children and young people will react differently and there is no one right or wrong way to deal with it. What is important is to ensure that young people get the support they feel they need, not what others dictate should happen.”

Speaking about the development of the new training modules, Simon Massey, Children in Scotland’s Head of Engagement and Learning, said: “Our two new courses provide excellent learning opportunities, which fill gaps around supporting practitioners while providing clear information to young people. I’ve been impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm demonstrated by those developing them and would encourage anyone who is working in their field to access the modules for free on the Children in Scotland eLearning Hub.”

Launched in December 2020, Children in Scotland’s eLearning Hub provides a range of online programmes in collaboration with organisations and services across Scotland’s children’s sector, and the two new trauma courses will join a new module on Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) launched last month and a course on understanding visual impairment in preschool children which will launch later in 2024.

For more information on the new More Than My Trauma courses, click here to visit our eLearning Hub

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Scottish Government seeks views on charity regulation review

19 Jun 2024

Scottish Government has launched a 12-week consultation to gather views on whether current charity regulation needs to be reviewed.

As 2025 marks 20 years since the first Scottish charities Act was passed by Parliament, Scottish Government is considering whether regulation is still working for everyone by asking the charity sector if change is needed.

Looking to hear from the organisations, networks and people that make up the 25,000 charities currently registered in Scotland, the consultation is comprised of 10 short questions which explore the need for a review, as well as what the purpose and parameters of a future review should be.

Those interested in learning more about the consultation, will have the opportunity to attend a webinar hosted by the Scottish Government on Wednesday 26 June (3-4pm) which will provide further information on the questions and allow space for a discussion on the issue. To sign up for the webinar, please email charityreview@gov.scot

Scottish Government’s Charity Law Team Leader, Caroline Monk says:

“Next year will be 20 years since the Scottish Parliament passed the first Scottish charities Act, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. That year saw the then Prince Charles’ marriage to Camila Parker-Bowles, Angela Merkel becoming the first female Chancellor of Germany and Pope John-Paul II’s death. A lot has changed since then. So, we’re asking you if charity regulation in Scotland needs to change as well.

“We know that finding the time and the energy to respond to consultations can be challenging but we hope that by including some quick questions, more people will be able to respond.”

Children in Scotland’s Chief Executive, Dr Judith Turbyne says:

“A lot of our members, and many other organisations working with and for children and young people across Scotland are charities. Even if your organisation is not a charity, you may well work closely with one. Although the regulation of charities might not seem like the most exciting topic, it is fundamental to the way charities operate so should be of interest to us all.”

The consultation is open until midnight on 22 July 2024 and responses will help the Scottish Government to decide the next steps in its commitment to strengthening charity law.

Click here to find out more and read a short consultation paper.

Click here to share your views and complete the consultation. 

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Nominations now open for Scottish Children’s Health Awards 2024

13 Jun 2024

Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond to help improve children and young people’s health and wellbeing? Or a young person who deserves some special recognition?

Children’s Health Scotland is seeking nominations for the annual Scottish Children’s Health Awards, which celebrate courageous children, as well as individuals and professionals who are making a difference across a range of health-related fields.

Nominations are open now until 5pm on Friday, 12 July 2024 across the following categories:

Children’s Choice Award: someone special who has made a significant difference to a child or young person whilst they have been undergoing treatment in hospital, the community or at home.

Health and Wellbeing Award: individual practitioners and teams who have made a difference to the health and wellbeing of a child or young person in school, hospital or the community through treatment or advocacy.

Healthcare Rights Award: children have the right to the best health and medical care possible, as well as the right to play and education in hospital, and this award acknowledges the extraordinary steps taken by a nominee/team to advance the healthcare rights of children and young people.

Health-Related Play Award: the charity is looking for someone special – or perhaps a special team – who has made a significance difference to a child’s life through health-related play, which can help children physically, mentally and emotionally during treatment.

Improving Life Experiences Award: honouring an individual who has made a difference to the confidence and resilience of a child or young person, nominees may also have helped children and young people develop basic skills and habits to deal with challenges later in their life.

Young Achiever Award: a child or young person who has shown great determination and enormous courage in their life.

Judging for the coveted “Teddy Awards” will take place during July and August 2024, before winners are announced at a glittering ceremony, hosted by journalist and TV presenter, Catriona Shearer.

Taking place during Scottish Children’s Health Week, which runs from 2 to 8 September, the event will also include presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be chosen by a panel of judges, and celebrates those who have made outstanding contributions to the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

To find out more and make your nomination, visit childrenshealthscotland.org/events/awards

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£2m funding boost for football activity clubs

A £2 million funding boost to football activity clubs that provide wrap-around childcare was announced yesterday by the Scottish Government.

The Government will double its investment in the Extra Time Programme, a joint initiative with the Scottish Football Association, from £2 million to £4 million for this financial year. The funding will support more free before and after school clubs, and holiday clubs for children from families on low incomes. It is hoped that this step will help more parents to enter or sustain employment or training, as part of Scottish Goverment's ambitions around the eradication of child poverty.

First Minister John Swinney made the announcement during a visit to Pollok United’s after-school activity club where he heard about the contribution innovative childcare options are making to the eradication of child poverty.
Mr Swinney said:

“We know funding from the Extra Time Programme is enabling football clubs and trusts to provide really valuable childcare options, particularly for families from low-income households who are most at risk of living in poverty. By removing barriers to affordable and accessible childcare, we will contribute to the eradication of child poverty. I will shortly set out further views on this crucial issue in Parliament.

“At the Nethercraigs Sports Facility, I saw children enjoying a healthy snack and fun activities including arts and crafts and sports. Parents have told Pollok United the service helps with food and childcare costs, relieving pressure on stretched family budgets.

“Like many others, I will be supporting Scotland at Euro 2024 when it gets underway in Germany this week. But the Extra Time Programme is a reminder that local football clubs are supporting communities here at home – providing valuable services beyond matchday. They understand the value of that support for local families, and they are well placed to provide crucial facilities and services.”

More information on the Extra Time Programme, and the clubs it currently supports, can be found by clicking here.

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New survey aims to highlight unpaid carers' experiences

6 Jun 2024

Charity Shared Care Scotland has launched a new survey for unpaid carers, aiming to gather experiences of accessing and using short breaks and respite services in Scotland.

Available now until July 31 2024, the online survey is open to all unpaid carers in Scotland, and the organisation would like to hear from carers of all ages, including those who provide support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour.

With new “right to a break” legislation in development, Shared Care Scotland (click here for more) say it has never been more important to put carers voices at the heart of decision making, and responses from the survey will help to better influence the development of national and local policies and practice, while improving carers’ access to meaningful breaks.

“At Shared Care Scotland all of our work is informed by the voices of carers and those involved in developing and delivering meaningful short breaks,” explained Chief Executive Don Williamson. “The development of the Right to a Break from caring is a critically important step forward for unpaid carers. It has the chance to fundamentally change carers experiences for the better, but this right will only be met if there is short breaks and respite infrastructure in place to deliver it.

“Understanding the needs and the experiences of carers is an essential part of this process and we would encourage as many carers as possible to take part in our survey.”

Data from the survey will be analysed by the Shared Care Scotland team, who will later conduct a number of focus groups to discuss the issues in more detail. The survey consists mainly of multiple-choice questions, and should take no longer than 25 minutes to complete.

For more information and to access the survey, visit sharedcarescotland.org.uk/policy-practice-development/2024-carers-survey

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Children in Scotland responds to the UNCRC Statutory Guidance Consultation

16 May 2024

Children in Scotland has today (Thursday 16 May) responded to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Statutory Guidance Consultation.

While welcoming the actions of the Scottish Government as bringing Scotland another step closer to UNCRC incorporation, Children in Scotland has also highlighted concerns about the length, accessibility and complexity of the proposed information and how this will impact engagement with the guidance.

The draft guidance, issued by Scottish Government earlier this year, outlines changes to Part 2 and Part 3, Section 18 of the UNCRC, which provides significant detail on who is required to comply under the Act, what their requirements and duties are, and how the Scottish Government will utilise the Act to better children’s access to their rights.

Through its Supporting the Third Sector project (click here for more), Children in Scotland consulted with staff from Scotland’s Third Sector Interfaces to inform its response to the draft guidance.

While there was enthusiasm and understanding of the strengthening that incorporation will bring to children’s rights in Scotland, many members had concerns around the lack of accessible support available for the third sector, especially when considering the limited capacity that many organisations have to deliver on their compatibility duties.

Sharing concerns about the accessibility of guidance, Children in Scotland’s advice and information services, Enquire (click here for more) and My Rights, My Say (click here for more), highlighted the difficulties service users already face when accessing redress under the current education system and emphasised the importance of new guidance not adding complications to the current system. My Rights, My Say have also submitted a whole service response to this consultation.

Children in Scotland’s response also highlighted where the guidance delivered succinct and clear information and offered its full support and commitment to work with the Scottish Government, members and sector partners as the UNCRC incorporation comes into effect over the coming months.

Click here to read Children in Scotland’s response to the UNCRC Statutory Guidance Consultation

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Children in Scotland congratulates John Swinney on FM appointment

Children in Scotland congratulates John Swinney on his appointment as Scotland’s First Minister.

Earlier this week, we were pleased to hear Mr Swinney reaffirm his commitment to eradicating child poverty. At a time when many families are facing significant cost-of-living pressures and 1 in 4 children in Scotland are growing up in poverty, it is clear more urgent action is required. We are calling on the First Minister to prioritise action on poverty by introducing an immediate uplift to the Scottish Child Payment with a view to increasing this to £40 by the end of this parliament.

To realise a Scotland where all children grow up loved, safe and respected, and where every child can realise their full potential, collaborative working is by essential. With the introduction of new UNCRC legislation coming into effect this summer, we have a unique opportunity to improve outcomes for children and young people in Scotland and to ensure our political decision-making is underpinned by children’s rights.

We look forward to working with Mr Swinney, the Scottish Government, MSPs, and our members and partners across the children’s sector to achieve our common goals. Together we can tackle significant issues impacting children, young people and families today, including poverty and inequality, access to public services, poor mental health, education reform, and the climate crisis.

David Mackay
Head of Policy, Projects and Participation

New paper reflects young people’s views on behaviour and relationships in schools

1 May 2024

Children in Scotland has published a summary paper today (1 May) which adds new evidence to the ongoing discussions about behaviour and relationships in schools, drawing directly on the experiences of young people.

The relationships and behaviour summary paper brings together the views of the Inclusion Ambassadors, a group of secondary school-aged pupils who have a range of additional support needs and attend a variety of educational provision across Scotland. The group, delivered by Children in Scotland with support from Enquire , are encouraged to speak freely and openly about their experiences and are supported to contribute to policy consultations and discussions.

This newly-published paper reflects the Inclusion Ambassadors’ views on relationships and behaviour in school and what works for children and young people. Use of positive reinforcement, particularly verbal praise, was identified as impactful for promoting positive relationships and behaviour in schools. The group also shared their views on what contributes to distressed behaviour including unfair expectations, lack of support and stress.

Emphasising the importance of schools approaching communication and inclusion in a progressive way, the group highlighted the need for school staff to take a calm and inclusive approach to supporting all children and young people identifying the often negative impact of shouting and exclusion on pupils.

Based on the views of the Inclusion Ambassadors, Children in Scotland has proposed several recommendations to support professionals working with children and young people. Recommendations include taking a rights-based and child-centred approach to addressing issues relating to behaviour and relationships in school, as well as recognising the positive achievements and decision making of all pupils to support young people to build confidence and make positive choices.

Chris Ross, Policy, Projects and Participation Manager says: “Behaviour and relationships in schools has been a prominent topic in discussions about Scottish education in recent months and it is critical that children and young people’s voices are central to this debate. Drawing on their own experiences, the Inclusion Ambassadors offer a valuable perspective on how the current approach in schools can be improved. We hope the recommendations outlined in the relationships and behaviour summary paper can support the development of policy and practice in this area.”

Click here to read the full summary paper and recommendations

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