Forces Children Scotland 7 hours ago
East Ayrshire Council has endorsed the Forces Children’s Rights Charter, committing to recognise and respond to the needs of children and young people from Armed Forces families across the area, many of whom grow up far from a military base.
Councillors agreed to endorse the Charter at the full council meeting on Friday 30 October, following a motion brought by Councillor Jim Todd. East Ayrshire becomes the eighth local authority in Scotland to back the Charter.
The Forces Children’s Rights Charter was developed by Forces Children Scotland together with children and young people from Armed Forces families. Built on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, it sets out 10 commitments covering how Forces children are recognised, listened to and supported by the services around them.
Steven Sweeney, Chief Executive of Forces Children Scotland, said:
“Not every Forces child grows up next to a barracks. In East Ayrshire, they’re more likely to be the child whose mum is a reservist, whose dad is deployed while the family stays at home, or who has just moved back after a posting somewhere else. Those children can be easy to miss, and that’s exactly why this decision matters.
“Young people from Armed Forces families wrote this Charter themselves. They told us what they need the adults around them to know and do. East Ayrshire’s councillors have now said, publicly, that they have listened.”
“What might seem like small things can make a real difference to a Forces child’s day to day life: a teacher who understands why the run up to Christmas is harder when a parent is deployed, or a new school that doesn’t need everything explained twice after a move. We’ll be working alongside the council’s teams to make sure that’s what follows.
“With East Ayrshire on board, we’d encourage neighbouring councils across Ayrshire to take the same step, so a Forces child gets the same recognition whichever side of a council boundary they live on.”
Councillor Jim Todd, Veterans Champion
“I was delighted to propose a motion at the recent meeting of Full Council that recognised the significant contribution made by Armed Forces families within East Ayrshire. East Ayrshire Council agreed to endorse and adopt the Forces Children’s Rights Charter to ensure the unique needs and experiences of Armed Forces children are integrated into our strategic planning, service delivery, and partnerships.
As a Council, we recognise the distinct challenges families face—from high mobility to parental deployment—and are committed to working alongside Forces Children Scotland and our local partners to continue to promote and protect their wellbeing.”
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