We believe policy-makers need to take more action to ensure the voice of children and young people from armed forces and veteran families are heard in future consultations and policy-making.
Consult directly with more children and young people
Commit to listening to the lived experience of children and young people in armed forces and veteran families.
Understand what support is needed
Understand that support needs children and young people from armed forces and veteran families extend beyond education.
Amplify the voice of children and young people
Take action to ensure the voice
The Scottish Government’s Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) approach always underpins our work and we will work collaboratively with children, young people, families and stakeholders from across the military and children’s sectors to ensure United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) incorporation truly makes rights real for Armed Forces children and young people in Scotland.
We support the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant to make sure that Armed Forces children and young people are treated fairly, while also embedding the principles of the UK Armed Forces Families Strategy across all aspects of our activity, ensuring that Armed Forces children and young people are recognised and respected, informed and empowered, and listened to and understood.
Our commitment to early intervention, trauma-informed practice and an ecological understanding of child wellbeing will ensure our strategic plan aligns with several public health priorities for Scotland. Furthermore, we will ensure robust monitoring and evaluation of our work over the next three years to evidence our contribution to these wider priorities and outcomes.
For further information about our policy and influencing work, please contact