Children and Families – Page 170 – The NEN

Sustrans Big Pedal starts today

Sustrans Big Pedal is back! The UK’s biggest cycling, walking, wheeling and scooting challenge takes place between 19 and 30 April.

Keeping children active is more important than ever and because we don’t know exactly what the rest of 2021 will bring in terms of Coronavirus restrictions, pupils are able to to compete regardless of if they are learning at school or at home.

Big Pedal is back for 2021. Our long-running competition to get more people travelling actively to school has been changed so that children learning at home can take part.

Families are being invited to take part in the Big Pedal 2021.

It’s the UK’s largest cycling, walking, wheeling and scooting competition for primary and secondary schools.

The competition has now been running for 11 years.

And this year it’s fronted by Dame Sarah Storey, British Paralympian and 38-time world champion in cycling and swimming.

Big Pedal 2021 will run from 19 to 30 April 2021.

It will see young people across the UK compete with one another to make the most journeys by cycling, walking, scooting or using a wheelchair.

The theme of this year’s competition is ‘Amazing Journeys’.

And we’re encouraging pupils to see their local areas from a different perspective and learn about the benefits of active travel.

The coronavirus pandemic and national and local lockdowns have meant that many of us are spending more time at home.

So we’ve adapted Sustrans Big Pedal 2021 to become more flexible to the world around us at the moment.

Children will be able to take part in the competition and supporting activities whether they are travelling to school or learning at home.

The importance of staying active during lockdown

Regular physical activity is vital to promote good physical and mental health.

And guidance from the UK’s Chief Medical Officers recommending children partake in 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

New data from Sport England suggests there has been a decline in the physical activity levels of children due to the pandemic.

Almost a third of children in England are engaging in less than 30 minutes of daily physical activity in the 2019 – 2020 academic year.

But our Big Pedal challenge is an easy way for families to stay active whether schools are open or not.

Keeping active to help protect the NHS

Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner for the Sheffield City Region said: “I am delighted to be involved with the Big Pedal in 2021, and delighted it will be pandemic-proof this year too!

“Health has been in the spotlight over the past year, like never before, and getting out for a cycle ride has been one of the few activities that have been unaffected by the various restrictions.

“Staying active is one of the ways we can all play our part in protecting the NHS throughout our lives.

“Active people are less likely to fall into ill-health and suffer from the many diseases caused by not getting enough exercise.

“I really hope to see as many people as possible involved this year.

“It will be a fantastic way to start the Spring and to give ourselves a challenge in what has already been a challenging start to the year.”

Sustrans CEO, Xavier Brice said: “We’re excited that the Big Pedal is returning for 2021, after what has been a truly difficult year for all.

“And the need to make time to incorporate physical activity into our daily routines seems important now more than ever.

“We don’t know exactly what the rest of 2021 will bring in terms of coronavirus restrictions.

“But we’re delighted pupils will be able to take part, regardless of where they are learning.

“Active travel has proven its worth over the past year, with more people looking for socially distanced ways to move around and remain active in lockdown.

“As we look towards life after Covid-19 and schools returning as normal, we hope to see local authorities use the next stage of funding announced in November for cycling and walking.

“We need to continue to make it easier for families to travel actively to school.

“More people travelling actively for essential everyday journeys such as the school run means fewer cars on the road.

“And this helps to ease congestion and reduce air pollution around school gates”.

Join in the Big Pedal fun

Another fun and easy way to get involved in this year’s Big Pedal is to enter our family competition.

Share pictures or short videos of you and your children getting active between 19-30 April using #BigPedalWin on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Make sure you’re following @Sustrans on your favourite social media platform for the latest news about this competition.

Whether you’re doing the usual school run or just need some inspiration for keeping the family active in lockdown, we’ve got you covered.

Download our free family guide and start scooting, walking and cycling to school like a pro!

NSPCC aims to reset the debate on end-to-end encryption

Polling shows majority of adults in Scotland would back end-to-end encryption in private messaging if children’s safety is not compromised
NSPCC chief calls for a reset of the debate to protect the safety and privacy rights of children
Home Secretary to address NSPCC event on end-to-end encryption

The NSPCC is warning that private messaging is the frontline of child sexual abuse online and is calling for an urgent re-set of debates on end-to-end encryption.

The call comes as polling shows the Scottish public support for end-to-end encryption of private messages would double if platforms could demonstrate children’s safety would not be compromised.

An NSPCC/YouGov survey found 29% of adults in Scotland support using end-to-end encryption on social media and messaging services, but this jumps to 59% if it was rolled out only if and when tech firms can ensure children’s safety is protected.

A total of 183 adults in Scotland were surveyed between 31^st December 2020 and 4^th January 2021.

Major tech firms currently use a range of technology to identify child abuse images and detect grooming and sexual abuse in private messages.

But there are fears that Facebook’s proposals to end-to-end encrypt Facebook Messenger and Instagram would render these tools useless, with estimates that 70% of global child abuse reports could be lost.

In 2018 these reports resulted in 2,500 arrests and 3,000 children being safeguarded in the UK.

A major NSPCC roundtable attended by the UK Government Home Secretary, Priti Patel, will today (Monday) bring together child protection, civil society and law enforcement experts from the UK, US, Canada, Ireland and Australia.

The charity will call for an urgent reset of the debate around end-to-end encryption which they say has increasingly become an ‘either or’ argument skewed in favour of adult privacy over the safety and privacy rights of children.

However, latest polling suggests public support for a balanced settlement that protects the safety of children while maximising the privacy of all users – including children who have been sexually abused.

More than half (52%) of adults in Scotland believe the ability to detect child abuse images is more important than the right to privacy and more than a third (39%) think they are equally important. Only 3% say privacy should be prioritised over safety.
94% support social networks and messaging services having the technical ability to detect child abuse images on their sites.
95% support a technical ability to detect adults sending sexual images to children on their services.

Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said: “Private messaging is the frontline of child sexual abuse but the current debate around end-to-end encryption risks leaving children unprotected where there is most harm.

“The public want an end to rhetoric that heats up the issue but shines little light on a solution, so it’s in firms’ interests to find a fix that allows them to continue to use tech to disrupt abuse in an end-to-end encrypted world.

“We need a coordinated response across society, but ultimately the UK Government must be the guardrail that protects child users if tech companies choose to put them at risk with dangerous design choices.”

A re-set debate should focus on demonstrating the impact that end-to-end encryption will have on engineering away platforms’ ability to find abuse in private messaging, and how this can be avoided.

The current debate predominantly focuses on the impact of end-to-end encryption for law enforcement, which emphasises the investigation of abuse after it has already taken place – rather than focussing on the loss of platforms’ ability to detect and disrupt abuse much earlier.

At the roundtable, the NSPCC will share new research and analysis about the implications of end-to-end encryption for child protection and call for tech firms to refocus their approach through safer design features and investment in technology.

It says tech firms should strive to achieve a new settlement that balances properly the benefits and risks of end-to-end encryption, underpinned by legal safeguards through regulation.

The NSPCC is calling for a reset of the debate that allows parties to reach a balanced settlement on both safety and privacy by:

Considering the needs of all users, including children
Avoiding characterising children’s safety as a simplistic trade off against adult’s privacy
Reflecting children’s digital rights under international law
Tech firms respecting the full range of fundamental rights at stake, rather than privileging some over others
Considering how particular design features can exacerbate the risk of end-to-end encryption to children – e.g. Facebook algorithms that suggest children as friends to adults and plans to auto delete messages on WhatsApp

The UK Government Home Secretary will address the meeting a year after the NSPCC brought together 130 children’s organisations to call on Facebook not to proceed with end-to-end encryption until they can guarantee children’s safety won’t be compromised.

The NSPCC’s report End-to-End Encryption: Understanding the Impacts for Child Safety Online compiled research and interviews with experts from 17 organisations in the UK, US and Australia, including industry, government, law enforcement, civil society and academics.

Its policy briefing Private messaging and the rollout of end-to-end encryption – the implications for child protectionsets out the importance of a range of responses to ensure child protection can be maintained in end-to-end encrypted environments, through technological, civil society and legislative and regulatory action.

Vaccine choice for pregnant women welcomed by maternity Royal Colleges

The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has announced it will be offering pregnant women the COVID-19 vaccine, in line with the vaccine roll out plan for the UK.

This comes after the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) presented evidence to the JCVI on the impact of COVID-19 for pregnant women, leading the JCVI to recommend offering vaccination to all pregnant women in line with priority groups. This enables every pregnant woman to make an individual decision based on benefits and risks.

Up until this point, the COVID-19 vaccination has only been offered to pregnant women when their risk of exposure to the virus is high, such as health and social care workers, or if the woman has underlying conditions that place her at high risk of complications of COVID-19.

Clinical trials testing the vaccine in pregnant women are just starting, but robust real-world data from the US – where around 90,000 pregnant women have been vaccinated mainly with mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna – have not raised any safety concerns.

Therefore, the JCVI is advising that it is preferable for the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna mRNA vaccines to be offered to pregnant women in the UK, where available.

Professor Lucy Chappell, consultant obstetrician and COVID-19 vaccine lead for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “This announcement from the JCVI brings the UK into line with the US and other countries who have been offering the COVID-19 vaccine to pregnant women since December, and should provide reassurance to pregnant women, as well as those planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, that vaccination is an option for them.

“We are continuing to work with healthcare professionals so they are able to counsel pregnant women on the risks and benefits of having the COVID-19 vaccine based on their individual circumstances.

“We are also advocating for more data collection of pregnant women receiving the vaccine in the UK, and welcome the work that is going on to ensure that there is recording of pregnancy status in the national vaccination programme to enable linkage to outcomes.”

Dr Mary Ross-Davie, Director for Professional Midwifery and COVID-19 vaccine lead at the Royal College of Midwives, said:

“This is a sensible step by the Committee and one we welcome. It empowers pregnant women to make their own decisions about whether or not to receive the vaccine. Ultimately it will be a woman’s choice and midwives and obstetricians will be there to support them to make an informed decision that is right for them.

“It is now vital that the national vaccination programme, GPs and maternity services are supported to develop systems and procedures that support women who wish to have the vaccine to have it as easily as possible.

“We need to ensure that those providing counselling and information to women about the vaccine in pregnancy have up to date accurate information and have enough time to talk through questions and concerns with women.”

Dr Edward Morris, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “We are grateful to the JCVI for taking into consideration our evidence and updating the guidance around the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy.

“Vaccination offers pregnant women the best protection from COVID-19, which can be serious in some women. We know pregnant women can get unwell with COVID-19; one in five pregnant women who become unwell and are admitted to hospital will have a premature birth.

“We believe it should be a woman’s choice whether to have the vaccine or not after considering the benefits and risks and would encourage pregnant women to discuss with a trusted source like their GP, obstetrician or midwife, or a healthcare professional in a vaccination centre.

“This move will empower all the pregnant women in the UK to make the decision that is right for them, at the same time that the non-pregnant population in their age group receive protection from COVID-19.”

Lift Off for NHS Lothian’s new helipad at New Sick Kids

NHS Lothian and the HELP Appeal are today (12 April) celebrating an important milestone as the new helipad located at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the Department of Clinical Neuroscience (RHCYP/DCN) officially opens.

The helipad, located above the fourth floor of the RHCYP/DCN will serve both the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the RHCYP/DCN giving direct access to child and adult emergency departments, as well as all other clinical departments based on site.

Hospital helipads play a critical role in trauma care by helping to minimise the time it takes to transfer critically ill patients. Without them, patient treatment can be delayed, which can have a devastating impact on survival rates.

Dr Jon McCormack, Clinical Lead for Paediatric Major Trauma, NHS Lothian explained that having access to a helipad plays an important role in optimising patient flow pathways for both planned and emergency transfers.

He said, “The helipad will provide access to hospital services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with three trained helideck responders being available to ensure safe landing and departure. This will help to enhance patient care by facilitating a seamless transition of patients from the air ambulance to in-patient services.”

The helipad was part funded through the HELP Appeal, which aims to ensure that patients who sustain life threatening critical injuries or illnesses are able to be flown directly by air ambulance to a Major Trauma Centre or key A&E hospital, where all the specialist clinical skills and medical equipment are immediately available, improving their chances of survival and recovery.

The HELP Appeal is the only charity in the country funding hospital helipads.

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal said, “The amazing RHCYP, DCN and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh treat some of the most seriously ill in Scotland. This lifesaving helipad will dramatically speed up the time it takes to transfer these patients from helicopter to hospital anytime of the day or night, giving them the best chance of survival and recovery.

“We had no hesitation in providing the £700,000 needed to ensure the hospitals had a state-of-the-art helipad – a crucial element in their emergency care offering – as it will save many lives.

“With brand new helipads opening in Applecross and Campbeltown, and the helipad opening in Edinburgh today, we are so pleased that the HELP Appeal is making a positive impact in emergency care across Scotland. We look forward to helping many more hospitals secure helipads in the future.”

Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Lothian said, “We are incredibly grateful for the support of the HELP Appeal in part-funding our new helipad.

“It really will make a positive difference to our patients and will no doubt save many lives not just here in Lothian, but across Scotland.”

Westminster committee to investigate long-term impact of pandemic on parents and families

Image representing news article

Westminster’s COVID-19 Committee is to hear the concerns of charities who have been supporting families through the pandemic.

While the pandemic has had an impact on all parents and families, the severity of that impact, and the potential long-term consequences, will vary significantly.

While there have been positives for some families in being able to spend more time together, emerging evidence suggests others are experiencing increasing mental ill health, poverty, domestic abuse and child neglect.

There are also concerns around the impact on children’s development, perhaps especially for those born in the last year.

The Committee has decided to conduct a short inquiry on this topic, and will begin by hearing from organisations working with more vulnerable and disadvantaged families about what they have observed over the last year and their concerns for the future.

Witnesses

Tuesday 20 April 2021

At 9.45am, the Committee will hear evidence from:

Jabeer Butt, Chief Executive, Race Equality Foundation
Sally Hogg, Head of Policy and Campaigning, Parent-Infant Foundation
David Holmes, Chief Executive, Family Action
Jaine Stannard, Chief Executive, School-Home Support
Jane Williams, CEO Founder, The Magpie Project

Themes for discussion

How the pandemic has affected more vulnerable and disadvantaged families.
What the long-term impact of the pandemic might be for parents and children.
What action is needed from Government to respond to these concerns.

Two young people involved in NSPCC campaigns shortlisted as finalists in Young Scot Awards

Fatima Ishaq, 16, from Dundee, and Rachel Talbot, 14, from Angus, are two of the young people selected as finalists for this year’s Young Scot Awards for their involvement in campaigns including ‘Young Women Know’, addressing peer sexual abuse, and ‘Think b4 You Type’ an anti-bullying toolkit for schools.

Since its launch in 2006, the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards have been Scotland’s only national awards evening for the young people of Scotland. They have celebrated the inspirational contributions and achievements of thousands of young Scots who have made a real difference to communities across Scotland.

Fatima, who attends Morgan Academy, is a member of the Young Women’s Advisory Group, who are developing the Young Women Know: Dundee campaign. It launched last year, and is a joint project between NSPCC Scotland, YWCA Scotland – the Young Women’s Movement, and Dundee City Council.

The group are creating tailored resources to address peer sexual abuse and help ensure that every young woman and girl in Dundee knows what a healthy relationship looks like and where to go if they need advice or support.

Fatima, finalist in the Young Scot Awards volunteering category, said: “When I found out I was a finalist in the awards I was a bit shocked, but in a good way. I knew I had been nominated, but I wasn’t expecting to make it to the final.

“The Young Women Know campaign is so important because it will teach young people about healthy relationships, what they look like and how to spot red flags. It’s important for girls to know they can speak up and access support if they are in a toxic relationship. We’re still working on the materials and toolkit, but hopefully they will be ready to go out early this summer.

“I enjoy volunteering and there’s been lots of opportunities through school. I’m part of a mental health group and we do work in our school around young people’s mental and emotional health.

“I’m a chairperson on our school’s charity fundraising group, Interact, and we raise funds for various projects such as the shoebox appeal where we sent around 40 boxes to young people in countries in Eastern Europe filled with presents, clothing and sanitary products. And at Christmas we raised money towards a defibrillator to be fitted outside our school.

“I think it’s so important that young people’s voices are heard. At the end of the day, we’re the next generation and we should all have a say on our future and the world we want to create.”

Rachel has been involved since the early stages of an anti-bullying campaign, Think b4 You Type, alongside NSPCC Scotland, RespectMe and Angus Council.

The toolkit was initially launched just in Angus, but now the materials have been made available to secondary schools across Scotland.

Rachel, finalist in the enhancing education category, said: “I was really happy when I found out I was a finalist in the Young Scot Awards, and it’s great to think I could be receiving an award for the work I’ve been doing over the last while.”

Rachel also recently became a member of the NSPCC’s Young People’s Board for Change, which was launched last month to give young people the chance to shape and influence the work of the children’s charity.

Rachel added: “I’m really passionate about the anti-bullying campaign, and I’d love to see a drop in cyber bullying around the country. It’s hard enough being bullied in person in school, but there’s also the problem of being bullied online, and it can feel like there’s no escape sometimes

“I feel like young people have a lot to say, and if people listen to us then a lot of things could be changed for the better.”

Carla Malseed, local campaigns manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: “Both Fatima and Rachel are amazing young women who are certainly going places and deserve their nominations in the Young Scot Awards.

“Working with them both is a delight, and their commitment to their respective causes really shines through when they passionately speak about what is important to them.

“It is crucial that children and young people are at the heart of what we do here at NSPCC Scotland. The last year has been so hard on all of us, and the younger generation should not be defined by the pandemic. There is so much that can be learned from their experiences and our new Young People’s Board for Change, which Rachel is on, will provide us with great opportunities for us to learn and have young people shape our work.”

The Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards will take place on 22 April.

Rathbones doubles support for The Outward Bound Trust

The Outward Bound Trust’s mission is “to inspire young people to defy their limitations so they become strong, resilient and curious, ready for the challenges of life”
The pandemic forced the charity to adapt away from their residential courses
Rathbones stepped in to double donations after loss of government support

Rathbones has doubled its donations to The Outward Bound Trust to help the charity continue to support young people during the pandemic.

Founded 80 years ago, Outward Bound’s mission is “to inspire young people to defy their limitations so they become strong, resilient and curious, ready for the challenges of life”.

Prior to the pandemic, this was done chiefly by hosting over 5,500 young people from all across Scotland per year at the charity’s Loch Eil centre. By bringing children to the wildest places in the UK the aim is for them to learn and develop vital life skills such as communication, self-motivation and resilience.

However, when the pandemic hit the UK in March 2020, it was no longer possible to offer the residential courses at the Loch Eil centre.

To continue to help young people when they needed it most, Outward Bound decided to adapt. During the last year the charity also saw its Scottish government funding decrease, meaning it required additional financial support in order to make these changes.

The Outward Bound Trust was already the chosen charity for Rathbones’ Edinburgh office, but Rathbones stepped up to double its original donations to assist the charity with its vital work. The focus on supporting the UK’s young people and aiding their long-term development fits well with Rathbones’ own purpose to Look Forward.

With more support from Rathbones and other donors, Outward Bound can now provide two new propositions to help young people readjust, reconnect and thrive post pandemic. These are:

1. In School Adventures – taking Outward Bound to schools until students can come to their residential centres.

2. Opening residential centres for activity days in the holidays.

Euan MacDonald, Investment director at Rathbone Investment Management comments: “We are proud to continue our support of the fantastic work carried out by The Outward Bound Trust.

“The mental health impact of the pandemic on young people is hugely concerning. We have been encouraged by The Trust’s ability to innovate in times of deep uncertainty and to continue offering access to the vital life skills that will be required in an uncertain future.

“Realising the requirement for financial support during this period we were happy to double our previous years donation.”

Martin Davidson, director of Scotland and Innovation at The Outward Bound Trust comments: “COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on the charitable sector, with the majority of non-NHS charities experiencing a drop-in funding in the last year- at the exact time when our help is most needed.

“We are grateful to Rathbones and our other donors – Swagelok Scotland, Mowi Scotland and Northwood Charitable Trust- for their incredible support during this time.

“We know that the pandemic has had put a severe toll on young people’s mental health, and it is our hope through our work that we can help today’s younger generation to recover from the events of the past twelve months. And it is thanks to our donors that we can undertake this vital work.”

Free online event will look at impacts of pandemic on children and how best to support families in Edinburgh

Supporting children during the pandemic and beyond, is the focus of a free online event being held for people working with families in Edinburgh.

The virtual event has been organised by Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and NSPCC Scotland to mark the end of a year-long campaign launched to encourage families in the city to access support and advice.

Anyone who works with children or families in Edinburgh can sign up to the event, which is being hosted on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, April 13^th, between 2pm and 5pm.

Speakers will look at how the pandemic has impacted children, the ways in which organisations have adapted to help struggling families and what has been learned during the last year.

Attendees will hear about the All of Us campaign, which was launched to prevent child neglect by encouraging families to get help at an early stage and giving advice on how to support those who were struggling. There will also be an opportunity for people to discuss how to better support children and families in Edinburgh in the future.

Carla Malseed, NSPCC Scotland local campaigns manager, said: “The pandemic has presented many hardships for families, including financial pressures, school closures, relationship strains, isolation and ill-health, and it has been more important than ever that people feel they can reach out for support and advice and get help.

“Organisations in Edinburgh have worked hard to find ways to adapt and support families while social distancing measures have been in place. This event will give us the opportunity to look at what we have learned over the last year and how we can best support families in Edinburgh in the future.”

Jackie Irvine, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “We know that even as we move out of lockdown, people will continue to experience the impact of the pandemic on their lives.

“Protecting young people and supporting families remains a priority for us and we want everyone across the city to be aware of where to turn for help if they or someone they know is struggling.

“It is crucial that we work together to find the best ways of supporting families across the city during this difficult time and beyond.”

Early last year, as part of the campaign, a number of community events were held across the city but further ones were cancelled because of Covid-19 and all activities were moved online, including workshops, seminars and a family fun-day.

In April, the partnership brought together information on its web page about organisations and contacts where families could go for help and support during lockdown.

This included information on support offered by public services, voluntary agencies and charities. Some examples were food banks, financial advice, crisis loans, mental health support, activities for children and support and advice on home learning.

The information was sent in food boxes to more than 300 families across the city and via email to parents through schools, and it was highlighted through social media campaigns. This resource has continued to be regularly updated throughout the pandemic.

The campaign raised awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who were struggling through lunchtime learning sessions and webinars.

To find out more about the campaign visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus.

To sign up for the online event visit bit.ly/3w3UCjK or email allofus@safefamilies.uk.

For parenting advice and support visit NSPCC helpline or call 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm. People can also contact Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324.

Plan 21-24: Building a country that cares, made up of services that work

Yesterday saw the launch of Plan 21-24, the first of three plans that will together set out how Scotland will, by 2030, #KeepThePromise made by the Independent Care Review (writes FIONA DUNCAN).

Plan 21-24 focuses what must be done during the period from 1 April 2021 until 31 March 2024. It provides key priorities and areas of focus for organisations to work to achieve the required change over the next three years.

It is ambitious. It is bold. It will deliver transformational change.

And it only exists because of the care experienced babies, infants, children, young people and families who campaigned for the Independent Care Review and then selflessly shared intimate and often painful experiences of the ‘care system’ in the hope of change.

Change that would mean that children, young people and families were listened to, respected, involved and heard in every decision that affects them. Change that would support families to stay together and prioritise the safe loving relationships that are important to children and young people. Change that would make love the value that drives everything and that everything operates around.

That change is here. And this is Scotland’s plan to deliver it.

Plan 21-24 is truly ground-breaking.

Hundreds of organisations committed to keep a single promise made to children and families in the knowledge that to do so would require them to change, to work together and in sequence – something that hasn’t been attempted to realise a collective vision anywhere else.

But I have seen the level of commitment and enthusiasm from all those required to change, those who need change and those with the power to influence change and I am confident that Scotland will #KeepThePromise.

Those 100+ organisations, including local and national government, national bodies and agencies, local and national organisations across public, third and private sectors and those with statutory responsibility for children and families directly engaged with The Promise Scotland team.

They submitted plans, reports and survey responses to outline what they would do to #KeepThePromise, the support they needed and what help they could offer. Scotland is primed and ready to do the hard work required.

The ordering of the Care Review’s conclusions have been translated into five priority areas of change:

A good childhood
Whole family support
Supporting the workforce
Planning
Building capacity

Each priority area contains actions that will be achieved by 2024.

These actions cover a wide range of important areas such as; family therapy, support for children of young children, schools and exclusion, the importance of safe, loving relationships, youth justice, advocacy, independent living, values and the workforce, investment, information-sharing, data, legislation, children’s hearing system and inspection and regulation.

But do not be mistaken – Plan 21-24 isn’t about building a new ‘system’. Rather, it is about building a country that cares, made up of services that work to meet the needs of children and families where and when they are needed. 

The system, the scaffolding around services, policy, budgets and legislation are secondary, and must shift to facilitate what children and families need and reflect what they have said matters at every level. 

The Promise Scotland is working towards a promise kept by 2030, and its own obsolescence. It will drive the change needed and provide support, honesty and accountability. But it is Scotland that will deliver change.

It is Scotland that will #KeepThePromise.

Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive, Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity said: “Scotland must be a country where all children are loved, cared for and respected.

“They should be able to live safely at home with their own families – where this isn’t possible the state must ensure they still get that care and respect in a safe and loving home. I am therefore delighted to welcome ‘The Plan’, the exciting next phase of the Independent Care Review that has been published today.

“The Plan outlines how over the next three years we will keep the Promise made to children and young people. Support for families to help them stay together must be simple to access and joined-up – we must end the siloed approach. Help must be offered much earlier, to prevent families falling into crisis.

“The impact of childhood trauma, and what works to aid recovery, must be understood by every professional. Most of all, children, young people and their families have a right to be heard and have a say in all the decisions that affect their lives.

“At Children 1st, we are committed to doing what is required of us to deliver The Plan. We will continue to work with government and local authority partners to deliver the transformation needed. We must make sure we have a system that always helps families stay together where possible, protects children’s rights and offers early practical and emotional help to all who need it.”

Free virtual conference on impact of pandemic on children for people working with Edinburgh families

Supporting children during the pandemic and beyond, is the focus of a free online conference being held for people working with families in Edinburgh.

The virtual conference has been organised by Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and NSPCC Scotland to mark the end of a year-long campaign launched to encourage families in the city to access support and advice.

Anyone who works with children or families in Edinburgh can sign up to the conference, which is being hosted on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, April 13^th, between 2pm and 5pm.

Speakers will look at how the pandemic has impacted children, the ways in which organisations have adapted to help struggling families and what has been learned during the last year.

There will also be an opportunity for people to discuss how to better support children and families in Edinburgh in the future.

“Organisations in Edinburgh have worked hard to find ways to adapt and support families while social distancing measures have been in place. This conference will give us the opportunity to look at what we have learned over the last year and how we can best support families in Edinburgh in the future.”

“Protecting young people and supporting families remains a priority for us and we want everyone across the city to be aware of where to turn for help if they or someone they know is struggling.

“It is crucial that we work together to find the best ways of supporting families across the city during this difficult time and beyond.”

In April, the partnership brought together information on its web page about organisations and contacts where families could go for help and support during lockdown.

The campaign raised awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who were struggling through lunchtime learning sessions and webinars.

To find out more about the campaign visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus.

To sign up for the conference visit bit.ly/3w3UCjK or email allofus@safefamilies.uk.

For parenting advice and support visit NSPCC helpline or call 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm.

People can also contact Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324.