Foster kids meeting Commissioner
Alex Lawrie • Published 29 Jul 2010 09:24
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FOSTER children from across the county are to meet with the Children's Commissioner's office next week in Port Seton.
The meeting is part of a national consultation with children and young people called 'A Right Blether'.
The visit, involving about 20 kids and young people from across East Lothian, is part of a nationwide tour which has already seen Tam Baillie, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, and his staff meet with thousands of children at more than 40 schools, youth centres and care units around Scotland, to hear their views and help them understand more about their rights.
The national consultation aims to capture and use the views, ideas and advice offered by young people to inform a national vote in November, to mark the 21st
anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The participating children and young people will be asked to vote on 20 of the biggest and most challenging issues facing children in Scotland today, and to identify the top four that the commissioner's office will integrate into a four-year work plan.
Although the exact issues are yet to be defined, topics such as bullying, feeling safe in the streets and family relationships are likely be included.
As part of the visit, the children and young people will be encouraged to send in their RIGHT brilliant things - ideas and thoughts about things that make their life good including people, projects and services.
The Commissioner's Office will showcase these submissions online at www.arightblether.co.uk, on www.youtube.com/user/RightsSCCYP and in future exhibitions.
The information captured during the visit will also be showcased at a major event planned for February 2011, to explore the results of the vote in November and agree the priorities for the commissioner's work plan.
Mr Baillie said: "I believe we need to get better at listening and acting on the views, opinions and experiences of children and young people.
"I want to listen and learn from children and young people so that in my role, I can fulfil my obligation to make Scotland a country where they can understand, exercise and experience their rights every single day of their lives.
"Their expertise and their ideas for the future will influence and help to shape my work for the next four years."
The event takes place at the Port Seton Centre on Monday from 1.30-4pm.
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