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Last Updated: 14/11/2024 11:14:37
Looked After young people find their voice
Tuesday, 28 May 2013 09:02
Dumfries and Galloway Council is one of only 5 councils across Scotland to introduce a Champions Board for looked after children and young people.
Young people from our Council’s Listen2Us project took part in a major national event in Edinburgh called ‘It’s time to Listen’. This event involved young people and senior members of staff from councils across Scotland pledging to listen to the views and experiences of looked after young people and committing to make changes. This was part of a Scottish Government campaign, in partnership with Who Cares? Scotland and supported by the Association of Directors of Social Work, to ensure the voices of looked after young people across Scotland are not only heard, but also actively listened to.
Back in the region, the young people held a ‘Meet the Bosses’ session with a range of senior Council and NHS staff, including Gavin Stevenson, Council Chief Executive and Councillor Andy Ferguson, Chair of the Social Work Committee, who signed a pledge on behalf of Community Planning partners to:-
‘Commit to setting up a Champions Board involving looked after young people and Community Planning Partners to make recommendations for improvements and to act on them.’
Councillor Ferguson said, "The young people have already made a big impression on senior figures in the public sector. At our meeting they were articulate and spoke with passion about the things that were important to them. These are the people who know what will improve our services at the sharp end. I am proud to be working with them."
The Champions Board will include a number of looked after young people and a range of partners who will meet on a regular basis to discuss the young people’s issues and concerns and identify possible solutions. This is a major achievement for the young people and they are delighted that the people who really can make a difference to their lives have pledged to take their views and experiences seriously and commit to make changes for them.
Young people from our Council’s Listen2Us project took part in a major national event in Edinburgh called ‘It’s time to Listen’. This event involved young people and senior members of staff from councils across Scotland pledging to listen to the views and experiences of looked after young people and committing to make changes. This was part of a Scottish Government campaign, in partnership with Who Cares? Scotland and supported by the Association of Directors of Social Work, to ensure the voices of looked after young people across Scotland are not only heard, but also actively listened to.
Back in the region, the young people held a ‘Meet the Bosses’ session with a range of senior Council and NHS staff, including Gavin Stevenson, Council Chief Executive and Councillor Andy Ferguson, Chair of the Social Work Committee, who signed a pledge on behalf of Community Planning partners to:-
‘Commit to setting up a Champions Board involving looked after young people and Community Planning Partners to make recommendations for improvements and to act on them.’
Councillor Ferguson said, "The young people have already made a big impression on senior figures in the public sector. At our meeting they were articulate and spoke with passion about the things that were important to them. These are the people who know what will improve our services at the sharp end. I am proud to be working with them."
The Champions Board will include a number of looked after young people and a range of partners who will meet on a regular basis to discuss the young people’s issues and concerns and identify possible solutions. This is a major achievement for the young people and they are delighted that the people who really can make a difference to their lives have pledged to take their views and experiences seriously and commit to make changes for them.
Page last updated: 20/05/2022
