URSPACE THE SPRING ISSUE
CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE, PARENTS, CARERS, FRIENDS AND WORKERS FEEL FREE TO HAVE A LOOK INSIDE THIS MAGAZINE
In this issue
Welcome
It feels like spring has sprung and I am looking forward to the longer, sunnier days.
In this spring edition of URSPACE you will find information about some of the work we have been doing to amplify your voices with decision-makers. This is a really important part of our work and we really want to make sure we get it right when sharing things on your behalf.
Get in Touch
There are different ways to get in touch with us:
You can click here to tell us what you think
Tell your includem worker what your thoughts are on any of the items in this issue.
There are opportunities for you to tell us what you think about Foster Care and how the Scottish Government supports Foster Carers. You can also tell us what your school is doing to improve relationships and behaviour and if those things are working well for you.
Over the next couple of months we will be doing work to show what is working well in housing, and what is not. We know that there is not enough housing available and that many families are sharing small houses or that young people are spending time between different households when they can’t get their own home.
We will be speaking to your workers about some of the ways they support you and your families with housing, and we would love to hear from you too. Get in touch with us if you’re happy to talk about your experiences.
Lisa Weylandt Policy & Public Affairs Officer
What We’ve Been Up To...
Transforming Lives Amplifying Voices
A new year means it’s time for the next version of our Transforming Lives campaign.
Transforming Lives is our campaign in which we share information between you and the people who make decisions that may impact your life, such as the Scottish and UK Government.
Last year our Transforming Lives campaign focused on a different topic every month. This year we will be doing things a little bit differently, looking at some of the big challenges families we support are facing in more detail.
The topics we’ll want to hear from you about are:
Housing Education Youth Justice
We will spend about 3 months on each theme. We want to know from you and your families what’s working well and what could be better.
We then want to spend a bit of time finding out what some of the possible solutions are and who needs to work together to make that happen. We will also use this opportunity to share some of the work includem is doing to support you and your family. At the end of each theme we will share a mini-report of what we’ve learnt, who we have spoken to, and what the recommendations for change are.
The information you share with us is important because it helps us plan who we should be speaking to and ensures that we’re really focusing on things that matter to you.
In December the Public Affairs Team travelled to London to speak to Scottish MPs about your experiences.
In January we met with Douglas Ross MSP who is the Convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee about our work and what you have told us about your experiences in Education. Have a look at what he’s written on page 7.
We also invited Natalie Don-Innes MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise to our Glasgow office to hear directly from children and young people about their experiences of growing up in Scotland. The Minister was very interested to hear about the work includem does all across Scotland.
Let Us Know!
If you’re on Instagram, Snapchat or YouTube, you may have noticed that we’re now there too!
We want to use those platforms to hear from you. Over the next three months we’re looking at Housing and we want to know how you feel about where you’re living, if there are challenges, what they are, and what you think needs to change.
Keep an eye out for polls and questions. As always, the more we know the better we can call for changes that YOU want to see.
Your voice in parliament
A visit from Natalie Don-Innes MSP, Minister for Children and Young People and The Promise
In February Natalie Don-Innes MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise visited the Glasgow National Office to hear about the work that includem do to support you and your family.
The Minister met with workers as well as a number of children and young people who are getting support from includem at the moment.
During the Minister’s visit we told her about how we works, and where we work.
We told her about A Better Life and how important relationships are in making sure that you can get the right support at the right time.
The Minister was also very interested in hearing about the work we have been doing with local authorities to make sure that Scotland #KeepThePromise.
We told her about our Beyond the Budget report and said that some families need more support as things like rent and food are becoming more expensive. We told her that we think the school clothing grant should be more generous and should also be given to families at different times of the year when they need it, not just at the start of the school term.
After the visit the Minister said in Parliament that she visited includem and spoke about the good work that we do.
Your voice in committee
It was great to meet with the includem team at the start of the year and I would like to thank them for sharing their views on some of the key issues facing young people across Scotland.
The views of children, young people and families are critical to our work and have a major impact on what we do. Recently, we've had important discussions focused on whole family support and The Promise and social work recruitment and retention [of staff].
You may have seen these issues raised in our public meetings on Wednesday mornings, but we also regularly speak to young people and practitioners informally to gather their views.
Our work influences what the Scottish Government does. It helps keep the needs of children and young people in the spotlight and ensures that services get the support and funding they need.
Over the coming months we are likely to return to look at what help the Scottish Government provides to school pupils with additional support needs. We are also due to consider a draft law on the use of restraint and seclusion in schools. And we'll be looking at amendments to the Education (Scotland) Bill, a key part of the Scottish Government's reforms to the education system.
If you would like to share your views on any of our work, please get in touch through includem, or contact us directly via the Committee's email address: ecyp.committee@parliament.scot
TACKLING RELATIONSHIPS AND BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOL
Tell us what you think of the Scottish Government’s Action Plan
Going to, and staying in school has been difficult for many children and young people across Scotland. This happens for many reasons.
Children and young people say that they don’t always feel supported in school. The media has been talking a lot about violence in schools and newspapers and tv programmes often show teachers talking about their experiences of schools.
Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP from the Scottish Labour Party visited the includem Glasgow office and met with children and young people who get support from includem. They told her that there are some good things about school but there needs to be a lot more support in school.
In 2024 the Scottish Government shared their Relationships and Behaviour in Schools Action Plan 202427. The action plan tells different organisations and people what needs to change and who is responsible for making these changes.
The Action Plan says that: In schools or areas where relationships and behaviour are working well we should find out what it is that’s working and do more of it.
Do you have examples of consequences or rewards that work well for you in school?
There are a lot of concerns about how young boys are talking about and treating girls because of a rise in misogyny. Misogyny means girls and women are not seen as equal to boys and men and are treated badly because of this. The Scottish Government is working with schools to design programmes to tackle this.
Is this something that is an issue at your school?
Schools must make sure that they are talking to everyone about changes they want to make and get their views. That includes you, carers and parents. Is your school good at communicating with your parents and carers? What would make this better?
We want to know what YOU think needs to change in schools. Let us know by clicking the feedback button below.
Movies and TV Books
Sonic 3
Paramount+(PG)
Horrible Histories
BBC iPlayer (PG) A Minecraft Movie Cinema (PG)
Flow
Prime Video (PG)
Children Friendly
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl
Matilda Roald Dahl
Teenagers & Young Adults
The Phantom Tollbooth
Norton Juster
Watership Down
Richard Adams
