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Our Children - 16 December
Merry Christmas
This will be our last Our Children Network newsletter of 2024. We want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your engagement and enthusiasm for this network.
This year we have grown to a regular average attendance of over 30 cross sector members, and the insight and contribution from each and every one is incredibly valued. The multi-agency working in Renfrewshire is an example of best practice, and it is wonderful to see so many individuals coming together with the understanding that sharing resources and knowledge is the best way to make transformational change for the children, young people and families in Renfrewshire.
- Menti / Feedback
- Get Involved With Caring Scotland
- Change Mental Health
- Research and Consultations
- Funding
- Resources
- Training
Last month we conducted a survey to inform how the Network should look and move forward in 2025. We wanted to share some of the feedback, and let you know that all points will be considered and discussed at our February 2025 meeting.
Question – Training Opportunities – what do you want to see?
- Mental Health First Aid, Neurodiversity, Child Protection and UNCRC were all popular contributions. As the network does not have a budget we will signpost to free opportunities, and look for ways for groups to partner when buying in training to reduce costs.
Question – Funding Opportunities – what support do you need?
- The most popular response here was support with writing applications. Engage Renfrewshire run workshops on ‘Writing Successful Funding Applications’ throughout the year, these will be shared on the monthly newsletter going forward.
Question – Partnership opportunities
- Lots of you responded to say you were looking for support with this, can all groups/individuals looking for partnership opportunities please contact Jane – jhamilton@engagerenfrewshire.com with more information.
Question – Policy development
- Again lots of response looking for support – please contact Jane – jhamilton@engagerenfrewshire.com with more information.
Question – Emerging Issues
- ASN and UNCRC were popular responses. We will look to discuss these in more detail going forward.
We are currently looking for contributors for our exciting new listening project, Caring Scotland. This project will document the lives and experiences of care experienced* people in Scotland. We want to hear from anyone who currently is or has been in care, up until they were aged 18 (or in some instances aged 21). We are inviting everyone from the care experienced* community to connect with us and to tell their story - all ages, backgrounds and experiences.
Find out more here
Listen to lead artist, Nicola McCartney, in conversation with project contributor, Leah Flint and find out more about their experience working on the project.
Until April 2025, we are offering fully funded programme delivery to organisations across Renfrewshire through our early intervention & prevention programme, Your Resilience. Your Resilience is delivered to 14-18 year olds in pre-formed youth groups across Scotland and the UK, aiming to provide young people with the skills, tools, and knowledge to support their own mental health through life’s challenges. Find out more here or contact Ciara Mallon - Ciara.Mallon@changemh.org
YP Programmes Overview.pdf
Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership
Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership has commissioned Figure 8 Consultancy to conduct an Alcohol and Drugs Needs Assessment study to help inform future planning of services and decision-making.
As part of the study, online surveys are now available for individuals with lived/living experience and family members/carers to complete.
The online links to these surveys are below, there are also hard copy versions (attached) which can be printed off and distributed for those unable to complete online.
- Survey for individuals with lived and living experience is available here
- Survey for family members and carers is available here
Individuals completing these surveys will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw for a £50 gift voucher.
The surveys will be open until Friday 20th December 2024.
If you have any questions about the surveys or notice any issues, please do not hesitate to contact the ADP at: ggc.renfrewshireadp@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.
Creating a Healthier Scotland for Everyone workshop: Engagement with children and young people on health-harming products and the commercial determinants of heath– Children in Scotland.
NCD Alliance Scotland commissioned Children in Scotland to deliver a one-day engagement workshop with children and young people on health-harming products, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the broader commercial determinants of health. Building upon existing evidence shared by children and young people, the workshop findings have contributed to the development of the NCD Alliance Scotland’s 10-year strategy by helping to ensure that the voices of children and young people have been heard and considered on key health and social issues that have a significant impact on their lives. Read the report here
Understanding age in Child Protection Guidance and Adult Support and Protection legislation - Iriss
This report explores working with 16 and 17 year olds, who might be eligible for support through Adult Support and Protection (ASP) legislation and Child Protection (CP) guidance. The report provides a Guidance and Legislation table, as a practical tool for social workers of all levels, and other professionals working with 16 and 17 year olds, to view the policy and guidance options available to them. This is complemented by a discussion of the tensions and challenges around supporting 16 and 17 year olds, through a qualitative understanding of some of the experiences practitioners encounter in their work with this age group. Read the report here
Child Poverty and the Housing Emergency – Aberlour Children’s Charity and Shelter Scotland
Aberlour Children’s Charity and Shelter Scotland have jointly produced a new report examining the evidence linking child poverty and the housing emergency. The report sets out clear evidence that Scotland’s housing emergency and child poverty are linked and highlights that delivering social homes as a key intervention to ending child poverty in Scotland. Read the report here
Developing a universal definition of ‘care experience’
The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on the need for a universal definition of ‘care experience’ and what the potential impacts of this could be. A definition provides a collective understanding of the meaning of a word or phrase. A universal definition would mean that there is a single description that everyone understands to be the meaning of a word or phrase. Consultation closes: 8 January 2025 – Find out more here
Funding
Volant Charitable Trust Small Grants Programme – Foundation Scotland
In response to the current cost of living crisis, the Volant Charitable Trust is for the foreseeable future prioritising the focus of its awards on charities and organisations who are particularly addressing poverty and deprivation, helping to support vulnerable groups who are most affected, with an emphasis on women, children and young people. Find out more here
Family Fund
We provide a wide range of grants to families living in Scotland raising a disabled, or seriously ill, child or young person on a low income. Our Scotland grant programme could help eligible families with essential grant items including kitchen appliances, bedding and furniture, computers and tablets, family breaks, sensory toys or outdoor play equipment. We would be most grateful if you could please share our information, across your networks and platforms, so families can apply for this grant support as soon as possible.
Resources
It’s not love: Teaching resources about positive relationships - NSPCC
It’s Not Love explores the themes of healthy and unhealthy relationships, including behaviours relating to interpersonal relationship abuse (peer on peer and familial). The resources include three films and accompanying lesson plans that follow four characters experiencing interpersonal domestic violence, in familial, friendship and in intimate partner relationships. Also provided are the clear curriculum links for this resource.
The resources seek to prevent harmful sexual behaviours and coercive control that may lead to adult domestic violence and abuse in intimate partner relationships. Find out more here
Summary of key issues and leaning for improved practice for voluntary agencies – NSPCC
This briefing focuses on findings from published case reviews which specifically relate to voluntary and community sector organisations. Case reviews often mention the vital support voluntary agencies provide to children and families facing adversities. However, there is sometimes a lack of clarity about voluntary agencies’ roles and responsibilities for child protection and safeguarding.
The learning from these reviews highlights that organisations in the voluntary sector need to:
- have clear child protection policies and procedures
- work closely with other agencies to keep children safe and respond to concerns.
Read the briefing here