Councillors have approved a report highlighting the work undertaken by the local authority to secure better children’s rights over the last three years.
The report is published ahead of the Council’s preparations for implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in anticipation of the forthcoming UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.
The Education and Children’s Services Committee also instructed the service’s Chief Officer to present a refreshed Local Authority Plan to underpin implementation of the statutory guidance.
The report highlighted the work that has been undertaken over the last three years to imbed the recognition of children’s rights in the Council’s operations. These include the:
- Successful delivery of holiday programmes in keeping with the self-reported needs of children, young people and families;
- Establishment of a Youth Network to improve youth engagement in strategic decision making;
- Improved Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) to ensure that Officer recommendations which directly or indirectly affect children and young people take account of the UNCRC;
- Introduction of community walkabouts with children and young people working alongside officers and Elected Members to jointly identify and act on concerns in local communities;
- Provision of 65840 free school meal vouchers to eligible families;
- Provision of 14564 chrome books, 500 Wi-Fi connections with dongles and 210 data only SIMs during periods of school building closure;
- Involvement and influence of children and young people on city master planning;
- Further development of The Children’s Rights Service;
- Appointment of a Pupil Climate Change President.
Committee Convener, Councillor Martin Greig, said: “I am pleased to approve this report which demonstrates the good work we have undertaken in ensuring that the views and suggestions of our children and young people play an integral role in our everyday work and planning for the future.
“We are well placed to ensure not only that we fully comply with future statutory obligations but that the voices of our young people continue to be fundamental in influencing everything we do as a Council.”
Vice-Convener, Councillor Jessica Mennie, said: “This report highlights numerous examples of the great work our services have been doing in providing channels for our children and young people to participate in shaping their local environment and the city’s future”.