Our Children - 31 July

Hello,

I hope your organisations summer activities have went well, and you have enjoyed the glimmers of sunshine.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 28^th August at 10am, KLAS Care CIC, Linwood.
You can sign up via the link below -
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/our-children-renfrewshire-cross-sector-forum-tickets-970360984827?aff=oddtdtcreator

We look forward to seeing you there!

If you have a story you want to share, information on your service, a call to action for the network, or anything you feel is relevant, and could benefit the children, young people and families of Renfrewshire, please contact Jane – jhamilton@engagerenfrewshire.com. 

This newsletter is packed with local supports and information to be shared with your professional networks and the children, young people, and families you support. 

• Adapt
• Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) Gathering Insight Events – Alliance
• Your Good Guide to Credit
• Keeping Your Kids Safe Online
• Togetherall
• The Promise
• UNCRC
• Funding
• Training

We are Includem and we have been awarded funding from the Scottish Government’s Whole Family Wellbeing Fund to build a better understanding of youth justice in Scotland. 
The two main aspects of the ADAPT project are research and the creation of pilot interventions.
For the research part we are speaking with people and organisations across the country to create a detailed picture of youth justice in Scotland and where the current gaps in provisions lie. Once the gaps in youth justice provisions have been identified, we hope to work with organisations to codesign, create, and fully fund pilot interventions. With the data that we gather from the research and from the pilot projects we will report back to the Scottish Government with details of where the gaps in provisions are and what works to fill them. We will also share our findings with our partners and other organisations.

To discuss or arrange appointment, contact: 
alex.weir@includem.co.uk
Find us on social media: @Includem2000
Website: includem.org

 

We wanted to share that the ALLIANCE have announced they are hosting the first Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) Gathering Insight Events. These events will bring together professionals within Scotland’s children and young people sector who play a role in implementing GIRFEC. Through networking opportunities, participants will connect with colleagues from both the third and statutory sectors, fostering collaboration and the exchange of insights.
 
These events aim to engage participants from every sector at all levels and will run across three regions. You are invited to register for the event in your local area. If you cannot make that date but still wish to attend you are more than welcome to join in the event in another region.
 
For more information and to register visit: https://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/blog/events/girfec-regional-gathering-insights-event-north/

Your Good Guide to Credit 

“Your Good Guide to Credit” which has been produced by Renfrewshire Affordable Credit Alliance (RACA), Engage Renfrewshire, Stop £oan Sharks and Renfrewshire Council.
 
This is a fantastic resource which provides important information for anyone who has ever borrowed money or is thinking about borrowing money but don’t know where to start.  It also contains information on Social Tariffs, scams and fraud towards the end of the document.
 
An online, reduced version can also be accessed by visiting the Engage Website.

Keeping your kids safe online

In today's digital age, children spend a significant amount of time online, whether downloading entertainment, chatting with friends, gaming, or exploring countless other activities. How can we ensure they navigate this vast virtual world safely? Our mission is to help you make sure your kids stay secure and responsible online. Together, let's make the internet a safer place for our children.

Key Tips for Online Safety

Regular Conversations Matter:

• Talk to your child about being safe, responsible, and appropriate on video streaming sites, social media platforms, apps, and online games.

Engage and Enquire:

• Ask your child about what they see and hear online, and how it might affect them.

Parental Controls and Rules:

• Use recommended parental controls and Information Sharing Protocol (ISP) filters.
• Discuss and agree on rules and limits with your child; don't rely entirely on technology.

Awareness About Sharing:

• Ensure your children understand the risks of sharing too much online. They may unknowingly put themselves and your family at risk.

 
For more information, click the button below:

Togetherall

Support for your emotional wellbeing is available all day, every day for all Renfrewshire residents over the age of 16.

Togetherall’s anonymous community empowers you to seek support from other peers and professionals online, via any device with an internet connection. Whether your feeling lonely, navigating challenges your unsure of or want to generally enhance your emotional wellbeing, Togetherall offers a safe space to truly speak your mind and access online courses and tools to help.

This service is free to Renfrewshire residents, visit togetherall.com and register with your Renfrewshire postcode.
Support is available immediately.

The Promise

We are delighted to launch the Promise Package in partnership with Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ). The package is funded by The Promise Partnership and was developed in response to the Youth Justice and Rights Challenge Brief for care experienced young people. We have worked with young people to design the package and Care Experienced information campaign page. Please share the information below with any partners who work with eligible young people!

The Promise Package 
Young Scot and Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) have come together to offer a new package of support for young people who are care and justice experienced. The Promise Package aims to ensure the approach to children and young people in conflict with the law is rights-respecting and that ‘offending behaviours’ are treated as an indication of the need for support rather than punishment. 

What is in the package?  
The package includes items and experiences to help young people navigate transitions and other key moments throughout their lives. New items and experiences will be added regularly, and young people will be able to claim or enter to win items and experiences which are most useful for them. Items and experiences may include: 

• Wellbeing box which contains seasonal items   

• Shopping vouchers for groceries, clothing and homeware  

• A Moving Out Kit (kitchen items, bedding, homeware)  

• Driving lessons  

• Laptops  

• Mobile phones and credit  

• Cooking courses  

• And more!  

Who is eligible? 

• 11 to 25-year-olds (inclusive) 

• Those with care and justice or justice experience  

When we say ‘care experienced’, we mean someone who has been ‘looked after’ (at home or in an accommodated placement) at some point in their childhood. This can include kinship, foster, residential care, being looked after at home under a Compulsory Supervision Order, or someone who’s been adopted and was previously ‘looked after’. 

When we say ‘justice experienced’, we mean someone who has encountered the justice system due to suspected, alleged, or confirmed involvement in offending behaviour. 

How to apply 
You can refer a young person you work with who is eligible for the Promise Package by completing a short referral form. Once the application has been processed, you and the young person will receive an email with details on how to access the package. Please allow up to 7 days for the application to be processed.   

How to access the package 
Young people 12 years and over will be able to access the package through Young Scot Membership. To do so, they will need a Young Scot Membership account, it’s free to sign up! For help with signing up, please contact membership@young.scot.   
The package will appear on the young person’s Membership Dashboard and be labelled ‘Promise Package’. From here, they can redeem the items and experiences which are most beneficial to them. Items and experiences will be added regularly so they can check back to see what’s new.   
Due to GDPR young people aged 11 will be offered an offline version of the package.  

Background 
Research shows that care-experienced children and young people are over-represented in the justice system. CYCJ are working to ensure Scotland’s approach to children and young people in conflict with the law is rights-respecting and that ‘offending behaviours’ are treated as an indication of the need for support rather than punishment. For more information, visit the CYCJ website.  

UNCRC

UNCRC Act is now in force!

Tuesday 16 July 2024 marked a historic day for children’s rights in Scotland with the commencement of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. This landmark legislation puts children’s rights at the heart of Scots law, creating legally binding duties for public authorities.
Read more
 

Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights) : Home (togetherscotland.org.uk)

The rights of children in Scotland and duties of public bodies after the UNCRC: what does your organisation need to do now?

By Mackay Hannah

Date: 24th September 2024
Time: 9:25am-12:50pm
Location: online
Cost: £149 (including video recording) video recording alone £99
This conference will explore the legal and service delivery implications for all Scottish public authorities following the incorporation of the UNCRC into Scottish law. It aims to guide public sector bodies and service providers in aligning their operations, culture, practices, and policy-making with the requirements of the Act.
Read more

Funding

Aberlour’s Urgent Assistance Fund can provide immediate relief to families with children (aged 21 and under) who are suffering extreme hardship. Families who are struggling to provide food, heating and clothing for their children.

This support is usually via cash grants to assist with a range of needs, such as food, utilities, clothing, bedding, appliance repairs, replacement of appliances that have failed, or other essentials.

To qualify for cash grants from the Trust:

• There must be a child in the family who is 21 or under.
• That child must be suffering extreme hardship.
• Grants are made at the discretion of the Trust.
• A sponsor must submit a fully completed application via our web application form link below. If applications are incomplete, they may be rejected.

Find out more here - Aberlour | Aberlour Urgent Assistance Fund (AUAF)

 

RS Macdonald Charitable Trust - Main Grants

The trust supports Scottish charities under the funding themes:

• Tackling Child Abuse & Neglect: services for children whose lives have been affected by physical, mental or sexual abuse
• Visual impairment: support for people who are blind or visually impaired
• Neurological conditions: empowering people with neurological conditions to lead better lives and be involved in their communities
• Animal welfare: helping animals that have been abused or are in danger of abuse and initiatives that reduce the risk of such abuse.

Find out more here - Home - The RS Macdonald Charitable Trust