Children’s Panel — Life Changing
Today I was delighted to launch the national recruitment campaign for the Children’s Panel at the University of Glasgow alongside National Convener Boyd McAdam.
It’s not something I often talk about, if ever. In 1995, just after my birth, I became what we now call a ‘looked after child’ and resided with foster carers for my first six weeks. During this time, volunteers on the Children’s Panel in Fife made the decision that I should go and stay with my Auntie and Uncle in Aberdeen, who would be able to offer me a safe, stable and secure place to grow up, and provide me with opportunities that may not have been available to me otherwise. This decision developed into Kinship Care and twenty two years later they still do my ironing!
In short, they, and those volunteers, changed my life. All that I have been lucky and privileged enough to do and achieve over the years; working in India, running for election, graduating from university and embarking on a Masters degree, I have done in the full knowledge that none of it would have been possible if not for my ‘Ma and Da’ and the decision of those volunteers. It is something I am constantly thankful for. It is of course not about this slightly bragging list, rather more about the two-decades of support and security.
It drives my belief that we must make sure the opportunity to grow, develop and achieve is available to every single child, not just those with loving aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins.
I wanted to give back and just over a year ago I began sitting on Children’s Hearings as a Panel Member. The Children’s Panel is tribunal, comprised of volunteers from our communities, who make decisions about the welfare of Scotland’s vulnerable children and young people. I was apprehensive at first, unconvinced a twenty year old with no children was at all suited to take on such a responsibility, but I quickly learned that it is the diversity of the panel system that is its strength. Different demographics, skills and experiences of panel members is the key to making the best decisions in the interests of young people.
It has been one of the most rewarding, informative and yes, challenging years of my life. Only through the continued involvement of empathetic, caring and committed volunteers, like those who changed my life in 1995, can we all continue to do our best for our young people.
It isn’t just a nice tagline, the Children’s Panel is Life Changing. I am testament to that. If it is something you have ever considered, now is the time. Click the link, find out more, give me a message if you have any questions and get your application in.
Please feel to share this post if you think it may encourage someone you know to get involved!
