Last month we resumed workshops for STAGE 2 of APiC’s COVID-19 Project with Children and Young People in Scotland. Supported by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS), ScotYouthandCOVID2 has recalled the Young Consultants who participated in our original project during April/May 2020.
APiC’s self-funded study in April/May 2020 was a participant- led project and report that was one of the only truly participatory projects held with children and young people at that time. It set out the important changes and challenges young Scots were experiencing, including proposed solutions. It involved teams from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and (Rural) Stirlingshire and Falkirk, each with 4-6 boys and girls, aged 10-16 years. Earth in Common, the Children’s Parliament Imagining Aberdeen programme, Denny High School, Northfield Academy and Manor Park Primary School helped us with the recruitment.
#ScotYouthandCOVID2: Workshop 5
We reported in the last blog on workshop 4 the new themes that had emerged for our Young Consultants on the return to school buildings. Overall, these were related to:
- overwhelm from some about receiving class tests in the first few days, despite not having had full-time face to face teaching for a long time;
- school buildings feeling crowded and unsafe for some; and
- rules about COVID-19 tests, masks and hand sanitising being unclear and unevenly enforced.
However, lower infection rates means more activities can take place within practical subjects. There are also more opportunities for fun out of school activities. This was a positive development for many Young Consultants.
Within the seven taskforces determined by our Young Consultants, they also reflected on best practice. For instance, there are teachers who adapt work schedules and pressures to recognise the stress pupils are under; give clear, quick and thoughtful feedback on schoolwork; and meet in small MS Teams groups. Allowing low risk outdoor activities for children and young people has also helped some feel more in control of their wellbeing.
In workshop 5, held Monday 26th April, we looked at the visions our Young Consultants have for the future, across the next Scottish Parliament term. We split this up into ideas for the short, medium, and long term. You can see the blank Mural grid they filled out in taskforces below.
Young Consultants also commented on the draft children and young people’s manifesto that emerged from all their work so far. We also collectively developed additional manifesto asks from their visions and voted on which were the highest priority. We reflect on some of these in this blog and will reveal more about the manifesto in future.
Mental Health is Paramount
Young Consultants visions for the future included many ideas and strong emphasis on tackling mental health issues. This included loneliness and isolation for themselves, friends and family and everyone in Scotland. In voting, this was by far the top priority. Not only did this refer to tackling long waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, but also addressing the root causes such as creating environments where young people and others feel included and valued. They also noted the importance of having their voices heard, and for others to have that opportunity as well:
Young Consultants were also clear that they would like to see preventative action of drug abuse. Some note that it feels accepted in society that some young people will start taking drugs and get into difficulties. They were also very aware of seeing drug abuse in the community, and the impact it has on feelings of safety.
Address Climate Change
Climate change and related environmental problems and worries were prominent in all visions from all task forces. Much of this centred around longer-term visions of a Scotland that runs on 100% renewable energy; where electric cars are used instead of petrol and diesel cars; and where habitats are protected and restored. This latter point was especially prominent from Young Consultants growing up in more rural areas of the country.
Address Inequalities
Young Consultants were very clear that they see no reason for a gap in pay between genders to remain in the modern day. They also noted other areas around equality between genders in clothing access, support, and in having equal opportunities. Indeed, they were keen to move towards more inclusive environments for everyone and tackle discrimination.
What’s Next?
Our Young Consultants have completed a draft manifesto with asks from all of their taskforces and visions. We have now completed 5/6 workshops for this project and will take a break between now and 17th May when we will have our final workshop. In the interim we will be writing up all findings of the report and sharing our draft manifesto with other child and youth focused organisations who may want to endorse and/or contribute.
We will be posting frequent updates from the Young Consultants over the course of the project, and also publish a report of all findings in May so follow us on Twitter for updates.
Read “#ScotYouthandCOVID: Children and young people’s participation in crisis” with the new foreword by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Bruce Adamson.
Read our blogs covering Stage 1 of this project.