Celebrating Keeping The Promise

Keeping The Promise was the focus of our staff event yesterday.

This was the first time since before the pandemic that colleagues from across the country had come together.

The event was held in Perth Concert Hall and we are delighted to welcome speakers from Board Members from Our Hearings, Our Voice, the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping The Promise, Natalie Don MSP and Sheriff David Mackie, Chair of the Hearings System Working Group.

We were also pleased to welcome guests including Fraser McKinlay, CEO of The Promise Scotland and Elliot Jackson, National Convener, Children’s Hearings Scotland.

The programme for the day centred around The Promise and we heard from the Minister and Sheriff Mackie and young people from Our Hearings, Our Voice got the opportunity to question both of them with questions which were submitted in advance of the event by some of our staff members.

Colleagues involved in our work to Keep The Promise also gave a series of presentations, including ones on Child Friendly Scheduling and Taking Control of my Hearing projects. We also heard about the work of our Voice of Experience Reference Group which is made up of staff from across the country with a wide range of experiences of care, including fostering, adoption, being in care and as kinship carers.

At the event, colleagues got the chance to consider and vote for our organisation’s new vision and mission statement to ensure SCRA Keeps The Promise.

Staff also got to take part in workshops on topics including rights, change, compassion, corporate parenting and LGBT awareness.

We were also honoured to get the exclusive launch of the Language Leaders principles. The Language Leaders are leading the way in making language in the Hearings System more accessible, personal and caring. The group is made up of young people with lived experience and adults with lived and professional experience across the Hearings System.

Gordon Main who co-ordinates the Children’s Hearings Improvement Partnership led group, said: “It was fantastic to hear Board Members from Our Hearings, Our Voice, alongside the Advocacy and SCRA representatives of Language Leaders, sharing the journey, principles and next steps for this crucial work. The language that we use has such a profound impact on all children and it was brilliant that this event gave such a profile to this co-produced work.”

Gordon, from Our Hearings, Our Voice added: “SCRA staff have already invested so much in improving the language they use and influencing others outside the organisation. We look forward at Language Leaders to supporting and providing ongoing challenge alongside SCRA colleagues.”