Forces Children Scotland 10 hours ago
This article was first published in the Remembrance Day edition of Attention! Magazine. Read the issue here.
Since its publication, three more local authorities have pledged their support for Forces children’s rights.
We’re grateful to the partners who enable this work across the Armed Forces community: Greenwich Hospital, Army Central Fund, Army Benevolent Fund, and The Scottish Veterans Fund.
Across Scotland, a growing number of local authorities are putting the rights of children from Armed Forces families on the record. Six councils—Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, Angus, Scottish Borders, Moray and Midlothian— have now formally adopted the Forces Children’s Rights Charter, representing more than a quarter of Scotland’s Armed Forces children.
The charter was created by Forces Children Scotland, working hand in hand with children and young people from Regular, Reservist and Veteran families. Built on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, now part of Scots law, it sets out in young people’s own words what they need for their rights to be respected, protected and supported. Provisions set out in the charter cover many aspects of these young people’s lives, from health, education, housing and their unique Forces identity.
Crucially, it was written by young people rather than for them: “It allowed us to have our say on the importance of children’s rights,” said Erin, one of its contributors. Another young person described it as a record of their “ideas, stories and vision for the future.”
That matters because Forces children are often lesser heard voices. Frequent moves and long separations make them resilient and adaptable, but resilience doesn’t mean they don’t need support. Too often, their experiences go unnoticed in classrooms and council chambers alike.
Inverclyde led the way in June, when Armed Forces Champion Cllr Graeme Brooks’ motion was backed unanimously. Others quickly followed. In Renfrewshire, Provost Lorraine Cameron told colleagues: “We value these young people, understand their experiences, and are committed to ensuring their rights are recognised and respected”.
For some Councillors, the issue is personal. Angus Champion Cllr Ronnie Proctor, a former Black Watch Major, reflected that his own children might have had a smoother path through education had the charter existed then. In Midlothian, Cllr Pauline Winchester, whose father served in the Royal Artillery, recalled living in eleven homes across five countries and attending five primary schools in six years. “Children born into a forces family have a unique life,” she said.
These Councils are committing to raising awareness of Forces children’s needs across their services, promoting the charter through schools and community partners, and working with Forces Children Scotland to turn its principles into action.
With 26 local authorities still to sign, the campaign is far from over. Forces Children Scotland is urging every council in Scotland to follow suit, and every Armed Forces Champion reading this to take the charter back to their own chamber.
Jamie Hepburn MSP wielding a Forces Children’s Rights Defender badge and vocalising his commitment to the cause at the Veterans Scotland Armed Forces Champions Gathering (photo courtesy of Veterans Scotland).
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