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Youth Advisory Group launched as part of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan

26 April 2022

MEDIA RELEASE

Scotland’s National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG) is launching a youth advisory group to inform and improve policy from the perspective of those with lived experience.

Established by the Scottish Government and COSLA, NSPLG brings together people with lived experience of suicide alongside, academic, professional third sector, and statutory partners to support the delivery of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan: Every Life Matters.

Stephanie Craig, a member of NSPLG’s Lived Experience Panel (22) comments:

“The news of the NSPLG launching a youth advisory group is incredible. Lived experience provides valuable knowledge and insight from people who have direct experience in such sensitive areas.

“Lived experience helps to drive and lead positive change. It allows space for valuable and powerful conversations and it raises awareness and influences policies. We've seen that with the lived experience panel, a group of incredibly brave people who have come together to do this, and our work has been recognised by the World Health Organisation

“Children and young people are under-heard, not listened to and often disbelieved by society due to their age. They are often underrepresented and due to their age not seen as having enough life experience to pass comment on important topics affecting their life. Children and young people have a unique and powerful perspective because of their age and experiences and we need to listen to them now more than ever. Children and young people are our future, they have a voice and need to be heard."

National charity Children in Scotland is partnering with the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Research Unit (NMAHP-RU) at the University of Stirling to recruit, host and manage the new Youth Advisory Group. They will assemble a panel of 12 young people aged 16 to 25 who will meet regularly for an initial period of 11 months to gather and share views to inform future policy.

The launch of the youth advisory group follows the successful establishment of an adult ‘Lived Experience Panel’ set up in 2018-19 to inform the development of NSPLG’s action plan.

Recognised by the World Health Organisation as an example of best practice, NSPLG is hopeful that the youth advisory group is the credible next step to listening to, understanding and responding to those with lived experience, and also a critical move in helping to address the escalating rates of youth suicide in Scotland.

NSPLG member and children and young people sponsor Fiona Drouet, who founded charity EmilyTest following the death of her daughter said:

“I’m delighted after many months of hard work and commitment that we are now seeing the launch of the Youth Advisory group.  As we know, statistics show a worrying trend of suicide increasing amongst children and young people. We need to listen to them to fully understand the numerous complex challenges they face and the Youth Advisory will provide a safe and meaningful platform where they can help shape the future of suicide prevention in Scotland.  ‘Nothing for them, without them,’ is a phrase I cite often.  I am privileged to play a part in this revolutionary work.”

The appointment of the youth advisory group aligns with NSPLG’s overriding approach of bringing together academic rigour, lived experience and professional practice to understand the causes of suicide and develop the most effective strategies to support its prevention. This work is underpinned by the belief that no suicide should ever be considered inevitable.

Children in Scotland brings extensive experience of working with young people to ensure their views are heard and that they have the opportunity to be meaningfully involved in decision-making.

Amy Woodhouse, Head of Policy, Projects & Participation at Children in Scotland said:

“'It is a privilege to be supporting the development of this new and important Youth Advisory Group. The group illustrates our shared commitment to putting the views and experiences of children and young people at the heart of decision making.  It is vital that young people's views on suicide prevention are heard and they have the chance to use their lived experience to improve future policy making in this area.  We are really looking forward to working with group members and together with University of Stirling and the Leadership Group, making it a rewarding and positive experience for everyone.”

The Chief Scientist Office (for Scotland) funded Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit (NMAHP-RU) at the University of Stirling has focused on mental health and suicide research for more than 20 years.

Dr Lynne Gilmour, Research Fellow in the NMAHP-RU, is co-Principal Investigator on the group.  She said:

"We are incredibly proud to be working with Children in Scotland to host and manage the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group's Youth Advisory Group.

Suicide is a leading cause of death in children and we are determined to ensure that the voices of young people are heard as part of the Suicide Prevention Action Plan.

“Listening to young people is vitally important to ensure that the objectives of the plan are meaningful and helpful to children and young people who may need to access help and support for suicidal thoughts and or behaviours.”

The group also benefits from the oversight and management from Professor Margaret Maxwell and Professor Helen Cheyne, both NMAHP-RU at Stirling, with extensive experience of conducting and managing research in relation to suicide and mental health more generally.

Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care said:

“I am pleased to see the launch of the suicide prevention youth advisory group.

“The Scottish Government sees the incredible value of listening directly to people with lived experience of mental health challenges, to help shape and design our policies and approaches.

“I encourage young people to get involved in this unique group, which I’m confident will help to identify what works well, and what we must do to go further, to reduce suicide deaths in Scotland.”

A spokesperson for COSLA said:

“COSLA is delighted to see the Youth Advisory Group for the NSPLG launch. We believe it will have a pivotal role in ensuring we are hearing and responding to young people and their family’s needs in the national approach to preventing suicide. We are looking forward to working with Children in Scotland and the University of Stirling and making Scotland a great place for children to grow up.”

The launch of the new advisory group comes in the wake of a 2019 review of suicide prevention policy (click here to read) by the University of Stirling and NMAHP-RU which found that policy wasn’t meeting the needs of children and young people. An increasing ask from services is that policy reflects the experience of and the needs of children and young people.

/ENDS

Notes for editors

Media contacts

NSPLG – Lawrence Broadie, lawrence@electrify.me.uk / 07966 216 270
Children in Scotland – Catherine Bromley, cbromley@childreninscotland.org.uk / 07843 626 042
University of Stirling – Greg Christison, greg.christison@stir.ac.uk / 07778 442 151

 

Profiles of organisations and project leads

National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG)

The National Suicide Prevention Group was established by the Scottish Government to support delivery of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan (SPAP), Every Life Matters.

Click here to learn more: https://www.gov.scot/groups/national-suicide-prevention-leadership-group/


Children in Scotland

Giving all children in Scotland an equal chance to flourish is at the heart of everything we do.

By bringing together a network of people working with and for children, alongside children and young people themselves, we offer a broad, balanced and independent voice. We create solutions, provide support and develop positive change across all areas affecting children in Scotland.

We do this by listening, gathering evidence, and applying and sharing our learning, while always working to uphold children’s rights. Our range of knowledge and expertise means we can provide trusted support on issues as diverse as the people we work with and the varied lives of children and families in Scotland.

Over the 27 years of our existence, we have built up considerable expertise in working with children and young people to ensure their views are heard and they have the opportunity to be meaningfully involved in decision making. Our participation work has won awards and has been commissioned internationally. All participation staff are trained in child protection, child rights and are supported by robust consent, safeguarding and participation policies and guidance.

We have developed a high quality, safe, robust, and creative methodology for participation and engagement work, grounded in child rights and equalities. It has considerable experience in hosting, managing, and supporting youth advisory groups for the Scottish Government on a variety of topics. This has included the Inclusion Ambassadors, the COVID Recovery Panel, Education Recovery Youth Panel (with Young Scot) the Children and Young People’s Panel on Europe (with Together, the Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights).

www.childreninscotland.org.uk


University of Stirling

Ranked among the UK’s 40 best universities in the Complete University Guide, the University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions and helping to shape society. Stirling is ranked fifth in Scotland and 40th in the UK for research intensity (Research Excellence Framework). Interdisciplinary in its approach, Stirling’s research informs its teaching curriculum and facilitates opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration between staff, students, industry partners and the wider community.

The University of Stirling is ranked among the top 20 UK universities for student satisfaction (National Student Survey) and top 10 in the UK for postgraduate student experience (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey), and has an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings.
More than 17,000 students study with the University of Stirling globally, with over 120 nationalities represented on its scenic central Scotland campus alone. The campus – also home to 1,700 staff – has its own loch and castle, and a recent multi-million-pound redevelopment has delivered modern, flexible, and digitally connected study and social spaces at the heart of campus, including enhanced student support and retail and catering outlets.
The University has twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize – the first for its Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and the second for its Institute of Aquaculture (2019). Stirling is Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence and its recently redeveloped world-class facilities provide the perfect training environment for the University’s sports scholars – many of whom compete at the highest level, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games – and for students, staff, and the wider community.

As a signatory to the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, the University is driving productivity and inclusive growth across the Forth Valley, and beyond. Through pioneering collaborative solutions to global challenges, researchers are putting innovation, skills, and partnership at the heart of a sustainable economic recovery.

www.stir.ac.uk / @stiruni

Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit

The Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit (NMAHP RU) is a multidisciplinary national research unit, funded by the Scottish Government Health Directorate Chief Scientist Office (CSO). It has academic bases within Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Stirling. It is led by Professor Margaret Maxwell whose research has focused on mental health and suicide research for more than 20 years.

The NMAHP-RU has an excellent track record for patient and public involvement (PPI) in shaping both the strategic direction of the Unit and in contributing to our research topics and how we conduct research.

Dr Lynne Gilmour provides the youth advisory group with an expert insight into suicide in young people, having recently completed a PhD exploring the experiences and journeys of care for children who are referred to CAMHS for reasons of suicidality. As part of this work, she led an international scoping review of suicide prevention policies. The 2019 study found that the needs of suicidal children are at risk of being overlooked due to gaps in policy and inconsistencies in how the issue is approached globally.

The group also benefits from the oversight and management from Professor Maxwell and Professor Helen Cheyne, both NMAHP-RU at Stirling, with extensive experience of conducting and managing research in relation to suicide and mental health more generally.

Every Life Matters

Find out more about Scottish Government's suicide prevention strategy

Click here to read

Our Manifesto for 2021-26

We're calling for improvements in services and support for children and young people

Click here to find out more

Evidence bank

A unique resource directly capturing the voices of children and young people

Click here to visit the site

Support from SAMH

Suicide prevention advice and support from Scotland's Mental Health charity, SAMH

Click here to find out more

Pandemic Impact Survey Report 2022

The report from the Scottish Parliament's CPG on Children and Young People

Click here for more

Good Food Nation consultation response: right to food 'must be incorporated into Scots law'

20 December 2021

Children in Scotland has responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Good Food Nation Bill, calling for the right to food to be incorporated into Scots law.

The Bill proposes new legislation covering ‘the interconnected mechanisms of how food is produced, harvested, processed, distributed, sold, marketed, consumed and wasted’.

In our response we make clear our fundamental belief that all children, young people and families have the right to food, a right which extends to food that is adequate in terms of nutrition, safety and cultural appropriateness.

Amy Woodhouse, Head of Policy, Projects and Participation, said:

"In our response to the Proposed Right to Food (Scotland) Bill of September 2020, we asserted that incorporating a right to food would give children, young people and families a necessary mechanism for redress if they are facing food insecurity.

"We see this as a key measure of accountability for ensuring that the Scottish Government meets its obligation to provide all children, young people and families with access to healthy, affordable food and drink.

"A right to food is about more than food insecurity – it is about taking a whole-systems approach to tackling challenges such as poverty, diet-related illness and climate change.

"It has an opportunity to play a transformative role in supporting children, young people and families who most struggle to access food."

Within our consultation response, we also call for the Good Food Nation Bill to make a direct reference to the incoming new multi-treaty Human Rights Bill.

We understand that this is being committed to as part of the National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership's new framework for human rights for Scotland.

The Human Rights Bill includes the incorporation of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). This encompasses a right to adequate food as an essential part of the overall right to an adequate standard of living.

Nourish Scotland's Senior Projects Officer Stephanie Mander writes about the Good Food Nation Bill proposals in the first edition of Insight, our new members' publication.

In her article Stephanie calls for the Bill to include:

  • clear policy targets
  • meaningful engagement with young people, and
  • transparency on the tools for holding Ministers or public bodies to account with regard to the legislation.

Click here to read our consultation response in full

For more information about Insight and how you can become a member of Children in Scotland, click here to read the news story on the publication launch.

For more information about International School Meals Day, which is managed by Children in Scotland, click here to visit the home page.

 

Proposed legislation

Find out more about the Scottish Government's Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill

Click to visit the website

Children in Scotland's Manifesto 2021-26

Rights, Inequality and Health and Wellbeing all feature as themes in our manifesto

Click here for more

Food, Families, Futures (2016-2020)

Our award-winning project addressed the underlying causes of food insecurity

Click here for more

Insight

Our new publication for members of Children in Scotland

Click here for more

Join us in membership

Be part of Scotland's largest children's sector membership organisation

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Race equality statement marks bolder approach to addressing equality and diversity

28 September 2021

Children in Scotland today publishes its race equality statement, following a year’s work examining how our commitments and standards relating to equality and diversity could be strengthened.

The project work was spurred by the murder of George Floyd and issues raised by the Black Lives Matters movement in 2020.

While focusing particularly on what we can do to improve representation and fairness for ethnic minorities, the work is embedded in our broader beliefs about the importance of realising equality for children, young people and families in Scotland.

The statement makes clear our commitment to creating a culture in which equality, diversity and human rights are actively promoted, and rearticulates that we have zero tolerance of discrimination of any kind.

As part of this work we are also publishing a pledge of actions to strengthen our specific commitment to racial equality and inclusion.

Measures will be introduced internally to track how we are performing against equality and diversity baselines.

These will focus on areas including ethnic minority representation in our staff group and board; suitable training made available for staff; and more diversity in our choice of images and the contributors we commission for our communications work.

Children in Scotland’s Chief Executive Judith Turbyne said:

“Publication of our race equality statement and pledge today is an important step in building awareness and taking a much more proactive approach to addressing equality and diversity issues at Children in Scotland.

“In addition to what is currently required by legislation, we are dedicated to going further by taking positive measures to promote equality, diversity and human rights.

“I want to emphasise that this is ongoing work for us and that we take it very seriously. It is not a ‘one-off’ or a token gesture.

“We’re also aware of the need to be honest about our progress and our weaknesses in this vital area.

“We want to develop into a more diverse organisation and to do this we need to take forward our action plan and learn from the experiences and advice of experts partners in order to change.

“Recent project work with Intercultural Youth Scotland (click here to visit), and guidance from CEMVO (click here to visit) about the development of our statement, has been enlightening and encouraging, whilst demonstrating how much more we need to do.

“As the representative organisation for the children’s sector we will be seeking a wider conversation with our members about how we can come together to improve equality and diversity in a way that benefits all children in Scotland.”

We are sharing our race equality statement and summary of our equality and diversity work as part of National Inclusion Week.

Click here to read our race equality statement

Click here for information on National Inclusion Week

Race equality statement

Our statement and pledge sets out what we will do to improve standards and awareness

Click here to read

Our strategic aims

We're committed to challenging inequality and championing participation

Click here for more

On diversity and the cycle of racism

Our recent podcast explored the issue through the lens of a project with GTCS and Intercultural Youth Scotland

Click here for more

National Inclusion Week

Bringing organisations together to celebrate, share and inspire inclusion practices

Click here for more
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Magazine /

Comment: New legislation for siblings in care must be supported in practice

Posted on 25 August 2021 by Jennifer Drummond

advocacy care experience Legislation

Protecting and supporting the sibling relationships of care experienced children and young people is vital to creating a system built on love, writes Louise Hunter (pictured)

The Scottish Government aspires for Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow up. Last month it took another step closer to achieving that goal with a range of new legal rights in relation to brothers and sisters in care being implemented as part of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2020.

Within the diverse range of measures introduced by the Act, some of the most important relate to the separation of and relationships between brothers and sisters within the care system. Since July, Children’s Panels now have a duty to consider ‘contact’ with siblings every time they make, change or continue a Compulsory Supervision Order (CSO) for a child or young person. Local authorities also now have a significant new duty to promote and assist in maintaining brother and sister relationships, as well as placing them with the same carer, where appropriate.

Since the founding of Who Cares? Scotland in 1978, we have heard from our members about the real-life experiences of being separated from their siblings and the lifelong impact that has.

As a provider of independent advocacy, year on year the separation of brothers and sisters remains one of the top issues we support our members with.

As a result, we’ve been proud partners of Stand Up For Siblings, campaigning for a change to legislation that better protects these relationships.

As part of Scotland’s ambition to be the best place in the world to grow up, it has put in place the Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) policy. One of the core principles of the approach is the adoption of child-focused practices. This means ensuring the child or young person and their family is firmly at the centre of all decision-making. This includes brothers and sisters, but it is only now, with the implementation of the Act, that this requirement to ask for their views in care decisions will be a legal obligation. We know separating sibling groups breaks vital bonds and family links during an already difficult period of their life.  This recognition, that parent or adult carers are not the only family who should be involved in decision-making, is an important development for children and young people in the care system and a significant recognition of their rights and best interests.

In 2016, when First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the Care Review, she shared her vision for what a new system could look like. She said it should be “one that gives [Care Experienced people] a sense of family, belonging and love”. This vision has been supported within the findings of the review, The Promise, which said Scotland must “create an environment and culture where finding and maintaining safe, loving, respectful relationships is the norm.”

These new rights for brothers and sisters should help bring that vision closer to reality.

But no matter how overdue, change in legislation alone is not enough. Within the last decade there have been several new policies and pieces of legislation introduced with the aim of improving the lives of care experienced people. Sadly, many of these get stuck in implementation purgatory creating a postcode lottery for those in care and meaning many aren’t being met.

We believe the key to guaranteeing that these rights are upheld is ensuring that each and every child and young person in care has the right to independent advocacy. This approach has also been recommended by the Independent Care Review and unanimously agreed by the care sector and across political spheres.

At Who Cares? Scotland, we provide independent advocacy to those in care across Scotland. We do not provide any other services and are structurally, financially and psychologically separate from other organisations and interests. This is extremely important in supporting care experienced people to navigate the decisions made about their lives and having a say without conflict.

If Scotland truly is to become the best place in the world to grow up, person-centred decision-making needs to be at the heart of all we do. Protecting the loving relationships and the rights of brothers and sisters and equipping young people in care with the tools to have a say in their lives is a good place to start.

Louise Hunter is Chief Executive of Who Cares? Scotland. Click here to visit the website

Related content

GRA reform is a fundamental equality issue for trans young people. So why delay it?

Children in Scotland has responded to today’s announcement by the Scottish Government that, instead of going ahead with reform of the Gender Recognition Act, there will be a further consultation and the establishment of a working group on data, sex and gender.

The Scottish Government also announced that there will be no legal GRA process for under-16s, and that LGBT Youth Scotland guidance on supporting trans young people in schools will now be replaced by Scottish Government guidance.

Our Head of Policy, Projects and Participation Amy Woodhouse said:

“While we acknowledge the challenging nature of this debate, at its heart this is a human rights issue.

“In that light we are disappointed in this delay, and sceptical about what the value of further consultation would be.

“The Scottish Government has already conducted a full consultation on reforming the Gender Recognition Act.

“It ran from 9th November 2017 to 1st March 2018 and received more than 15,000 responses, with a clear majority of Scottish respondents in favour of reform.

“In the wake of this, last autumn the government pledged to bring forward legislation on gender recognition in its next legislative programme.

“Since then many organisations advocating for trans rights have done their best to share the lived experiences of trans young people, highlighting the injustices they face and articulating this as an equality and rights issue that must be resolved.

“We have fully supported them in doing this and will continue to do so.

“Transgender people in the UK are at a higher risk of homelessness, violence, self-harm and suicide – as made clear by LGBT Youth Scotland’s 2018 report Life in Scotland for LGBT Young People.

“Given this, we would question what message delaying GRA reform sends about the Scottish Government’s commitment to equality for trans young people and the trans community.

“We would also question this delay in the context of what should be an increasingly rights-based approach to policymaking and legislation for children and young people.

“For our 25 Calls campaign, activist Jade Reynolds said that comprehensive reform of the GRA could have the potential to give trans young people the chance to live full, happy lives – but that the challenge would be turning changes in legislation into changes in practice and at societal levels.

Jade said: ‘We need to make sure that all trans people have the legal protections they deserve; processes are affordable and accessible; trans people are not forced to prove their existence by arbitrary means; and society starts accepting them and their gender identity.’

“Today, we’ve taken a step back from achieving those goals at a time when we should be showing solidarity with trans young people and giving them hope for a better future.”

Click here to read Jade’s call, part of our 25 Calls campaign

 

LGBT Youth Scotland

Making Scotland the best place to grow up for LGBTI young people

Find out more

Call 8 of 25 Calls: Reform the GRA

Give trans young people the chance to live full, happy lives, argues Jade Reynolds

Read more

Wanted: strengthened rights and equality

Find out more about our 25 Calls campaign

Read more

Taking steps towards a more inclusive education system

10 Jan 2018

Today is a significant day in the recognition of rights of children and young people with additional support needs, writes Cat Thomson

As of today, 10 January 2018, the rights of children and young people aged 12-15 have been extended to give them many of the same rights as their parents and carers.

The extension of rights, as part of the Education (Scotland) Act 2016, means that from today, children and young people with capacity will have the opportunity to further influence decisions about their education and support.

Specifically, once children reach their 12th birthday they will now have the right to ask for their needs to be identified, have input into plans and decision-making around the type of support they may receive, have access to advocates to support them at meetings when exercising their rights, and be more involved in resolving disagreements about their support.

The Scottish Government's intention in delivering this Act is to empower children between the age of 12 and 15 to ensure they are able to influence decisions about their education and support including the identification, planning and review of their needs.

This is a welcome move. At Enquire, we know from our work with children and young people how important it is that they feel genuinely involved and listened to by the professionals supporting them and how much this can influence whether they feel school is a negative or positive experience.

These new rights will be particularly helpful to children whose parents are not always able to act on their behalf ,such as looked after children and young carers.

It is also important to note here that there may be some children and young people who do not have capacity to make their own decisions or where making use of their rights would have a negative impact on their wellbeing. Safeguards have been put in place to protect these children and we hope that these will be carried out by professionals who really know the child well, in line with the new guidance on this. The safeguards should still ensure that when a child does not have capacity or is unable to fully use their rights, decisions are still made in the best interest of the child by someone who is close to them.

Ultimately, the extension of rights is recognition that children and young people need to be, and should be, involved in decisions that directly impact on them. It provides an opportunity for those who work with and support children with additional support needs, to reflect on their practice and consider whether they are routinely listening to and involving children with additional support needs in the decision making process. If not, then there is now a legal requirement to change.

With this in mind, we support the Scottish Government’s creation of a new children’s service, My Rights My Say. This service, which will be delivered in partnership by Children in Scotland Enquire, Partners in Advocacy and Cairn Legal, is designed to support children and young people in understanding and accessing their rights and having their views heard.

Through My Rights My Say, and through Reach, our website for children and young people, we are delighted to offer advice and information to children to help them understand and use their rights. We can also offer advice and support for parents, carers and professionals through the Enquire website and helpline.

There will be much to be done in supporting professionals, parents, carers, children and young people alike to ensure their rights are realised and fully supported. But today is a step towards ensuring a more inclusive and equal education system.

Cat Thomson is Enquire's Senior Information Officer

Enquire

Find out more about Enquire, the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning

Visit the website

Reach

The website for young people offers advice and support on accessing their rights

Visit the website

Children’s rights extended as new legislation comes into force

Children aged 12-15 have had their rights extended under new additional support for learning legislation which comes into force today (Wed 10 Jan).

Under the Education (Scotland) Act 2016, children under 16 years old now have many of the same rights as their parents and carers regarding additional support in education. From today, children and young people with capacity will have the opportunity to further influence decisions about their education and support, including in the identification, planning and review of their needs.

Launching the amendments during a visit to Wallace High School, Stirling, Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary, John Swinney, said:

“I am extremely proud of our record on inclusion but these new measures go even further to ensure that children in Scotland have the most rights in Europe when it comes to accessing the support they need within the education system.

Enquire, the Scottish government funded advice service for additional support for learning, welcomes the change.

Sally Cavers, Manager of Enquire said:

“We are very supportive of the extension of rights for our children.

“It is an opportunity for professionals supporting children to reflect on their practice and consider whether they routinely listen to and involve children with additional support needs in the decisions that directly affect them.”

A new children's service called My Rights My Say has also been created by the Scottish Government to make sure children know about and understand their rights and are able to access advocacy and legal representation where needed. The service will be delivered by a new partnership, of Children in Scotland and Enquire, Partners in Advocacy and Cairn Legal.

Read our press release

Read the Scottish Government's press release

Taking steps towards a more inclusive education system - Cat Thompson, Enquire’s Senior Information Officer writes about the legislation coming into force here

Enquire

Find out more about Enquire, the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning

Visit the website

Children’s rights extended as new legislation comes into force

Children aged 12-15 have had their rights extended under new additional support for learning legislation which comes into force today (Wednesday 10 January).

Under the Education (Scotland) Act 2016, children under 16 years old have many of the same rights as their parents and carers regarding additional support in education. Children aged 12 – 15 now have the opportunity to further influence decisions about their education and support, including in the identification, planning and review of their needs.

From today, once children reach their 12th birthday they will have the right to:

·       Ask their school or local authority to find out if they need extra support

·       Have a say in plans made about the support they may get

·       Advocacy in meetings to ensure their views are shared and taken into account and legal representation at Tribunals

·       Be actively involved in resolving disagreements about their support

Enquire, the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning welcomes the change.

Sally Cavers, Manager of Enquire said:

“We are very supportive of the extension of rights for children.

“We know from our work with children and young people how important it is that they feel genuinely involved and listened to by the professionals supporting them and how much this can influence whether they feel school is a negative or positive experience.

“The extension of children’s rights provides an opportunity for professionals supporting children to reflect on their practice and consider whether they routinely listen to and involve children with additional support needs in the decisions that directly affect them.”

A new children's service called My Rights My Say has also been created to make sure children know about and understand their rights and are able to access advocacy and legal representation where needed. The service will be delivered by a new partnership, of Children in Scotland and Enquire, Partners in Advocacy and Cairn Legal.

The new legislation comes into force today, Wednesday 10 January.

Enquire

Find out more about Enquire, the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning

Visit the website

Brexit threat to legal rights of 1 in 10 children

One in 10 UK children could be at risk of losing significant protections in relation to cross-border family law as a result of Brexit, according to a report from Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights). The report finds that:

  • More than 10% of all children born in the UK in 2016 could be at risk of losing legal protections in the areas of child custody, child abduction and child maintenance.
  • Children’s human rights have not been adequately considered in Brexit discussions, resulting in a serious risk that many children with one parent living in the UK and the other in a EU country could lose specific legal protections in custody disputes.
  • Children’s rights are increasingly being embedded in EU legislation. This ensures children’s human rights are protected, respected and fulfilled across EU member states in line with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The EU Withdrawal Bill jeopardises these protections.

Read the full report here.

Children in Scotland has been working with both Together and the Children’s Commissioner to call for children’s voices to be heard in the Brexit process.

Representatives from all three organisations attended an event at Westminster on 13 September to discuss the issue, and our call was endorsed by the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, as reported by the National.

We're also coordinating at European level with Eurochild and partners to raise the profile of children’s rights as Brexit negotiations continue.

Jackie Brock, Chief Executive of Children in Scotland, said: “Together’s report is further evidence that we urgently need our parliamentarians to understand and articulate the likely impact of Brexit on children and young people. We also must ensure that appropriate information and support is provided to children who might be directly affected by leaving the EU - such as those children with one parent in the UK and one in another EU country. There is a growing understanding within civic society that it is children who will be most adversely affected by EU withdrawal. Their rights and wellbeing must now be UK politicians’ priority as the Brexit process intensifies.”

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Brexit threat to legal rights of 1 in 10 children

13 Oct 2017

One in 10 UK children could be at risk of losing significant protections in relation to cross-border family law as a result of Brexit, a report from a leading child rights organisation has found. Research published today by Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) finds:

  • More than 10% of all children born in the UK in 2016 could be at risk of losing legal protections in the areas of child custody, child abduction and child maintenance.
  • Children’s human rights have not been adequately considered in Brexit discussions, resulting in a serious risk that many children with one parent living in the UK and the other in a EU country could lose specific legal protections in custody disputes.
  • Children’s rights are increasingly being embedded in EU legislation. This ensures children’s human rights are protected, respected and fulfilled across EU member states in line with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The EU Withdrawal Bill jeopardises these protections.

The report found that an estimated 3.2 million EU citizens currently reside in the UK,[1] many of whom have formed families. In 2016, 15,878 births in England and Wales were to mothers born in another EU state and a UK-born father (2.3% of total births). A further 9,150 births (1.3%) were to a UK-born mother and EU-born father and 44,449 births (6.4%) were to parents both born elsewhere in the EU.[2] Scottish and Northern Irish figures display a similar distribution.[3]

Juliet Harris, director of Together, said: “Membership of the EU provides children and their families with certainty about their legal rights in difficult situations such as family breakdown. EU protections help families with UK/EU parents know where issues concerning children’s welfare and maintenance can be resolved, and helps to ensure cooperation between EU countries in relation to the protection of children’s rights. The EU Withdrawal Bill has profound implications for cross-border family law and, as a consequence, the security and rights of children here.”

“Sadly, but inevitably, a certain proportion of families identified in our report will face contentious breakdowns. Given the cross-border nature of such family cases, it is vital that families have access to clear rules determining which country’s courts shall have jurisdiction and under what conditions decisions from one state may be recognised and enforced in another. Our report found that, amongst many other risks it poses to children and families, EU withdrawal throws this into confusion.”

Together is working with national charity Children in Scotland and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland to call for children’s rights to prioritised in Brexit.

Jackie Brock, Chief Executive of Children in Scotland, said: “Together’s report is further evidence that we urgently need our parliamentarians to understand and articulate the likely impact of Brexit on children and young people. We also must ensure that appropriate information and support is provided to children who might be directly affected by leaving the EU - such as those children with one parent in the UK and one in another EU country. There is a growing understanding within civic society that it is children who will be most adversely affected by EU withdrawal. Their rights and wellbeing must now be UK politicians’ priority as the Brexit process intensifies.”

Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People Commissioner Scotland, said: “Family breakdowns can be a confusing and upsetting time for any child or young person. We must not compound this by creating uncertainty over key issues such as custody and maintenance where one parent lives in the EU and the other in the UK.

“Significantly, this report is just one area where withdrawal from the EU will negatively affect the rights of children and young people in the UK. We need assurances that every piece of legislation as part of the EU Withdrawal Bill must be scrutinised with children’s best interests as a primary consideration. Parliamentarians need to act now to fulfil their international obligations to protect, respect and fulfil children’s human rights.”

The report, The Impact of Brexit on Children and Young People in Scotland, was authored by Maria Doyle, a final year LLM student at the University of Edinburgh. It stemmed from an initial mapping exercise of all EU protections that support children's rights, ranging from family law, child protection and immigration through to the environment and data protection. The extent of the legislative protection was so immense that Ms Doyle chose to focus her research on an in-depth case study in the single area of cross-border family law.

The findings are therefore the result of examining just one of 80 pieces of EU legislation that grant direct legal protections to children in the UK.

  • Read the full report. Embargoed: 12/10/17

Contact: Chris Small csmall@childreninscotland.org.uk Tel 0131 313 8824 / 0751 998 2748

Notes for editors:

This is a joint press release from Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights), Children in Scotland and Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland.

Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) is an alliance of over 360 children’s organisations, academics and interested professionals. Its vision is that the rights of all children in Scotland are protected, respected and fulfilled, as enshrined in the UNCRC and other human rights conventions. To achieve this, it works with its membership, stakeholders and duty bearers to progress and achieve the realisation of children’s rights in all areas of society. www.togetherscotland.org.uk

Children in Scotland is a national charity working to improve children’s lives. Find out more here.

For further information on the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland visit the website at www.cypcs.org.uk. The Commissioner’s remit is to promote and safeguard the rights of children and young people, with particular emphasis on the rights set out in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. He also monitors the law, policy and practice for effectiveness in relation to the rights of children and young people and promotes best practice by service providers working with children.

[1] Office for National Statistics, ‘Population of the UK by Country of Birth and Nationality: 2015’ (ONS, 25 August 2016) <https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/bulletins/ukpopulationbycountryofbirthandnationality/august2016#1-in-8-of-the-uk-population-was-born-abroad-and-1-in-12-has-non-british-nationality> accessed 24 June 2017

[2] Office for National Statistics, ‘Dataset: Parents’ Country of Birth: 2016” (ONS, 24 August 2017) <https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/parentscountryofbirth> accessed 1 October 2017 (see in particular Table 3, additionally also of interest are Tables 1 and 2)

[3] For Scottish figures see: National Records of Scotland, ‘Table 3.10: Live births, country of birth of mother by country of birth of father, Scotland, 2016’ (National Records of Scotland, 2016) <https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/vital-events-ref-tables/16/3-birth/ve-ref-tabs-16-tab3.10.pdf> accessed 1 August 2017; for Northern Irish figures see: NISRA, ‘Registrar General Annual Report 2015: Tables and full report’ (NISRA, 31 August 2016) <https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/registrar-general-annual-report-2015-tables-and-full-report> accessed 1 October 2017 (see “Births” section, most relevant tables being 3.15, 3.16 and 3.22)

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