The Promise was the outcome of a nation-wide, independent root and branch review of child care services. The demand called for a Scotland where every child grows up loved, safe and respected and is able to reach their full potential.
One of the key messages from The Promise was that local authorities, organisations and institutions “radically rethink their underlying purpose and structures.”
Delivering on the Council's commitments
Stirling Council has held true to its commitment to The Promise with a variety of work including:
- Employing a Lead Officer to drive planning and delivery of The Promise, who has facilitated awareness raising and coproduction workshops for over 120 participants since September 2021.
- A Corporate Parenting E-learning module has been rolled out to staff and partner agencies to raise awareness of their responsibilities for those with care experience and support workforce development, which is one of the five priority areas of the Promise Plan 21-24.
- Engaging with young people with care experience through the Stirling’s Champions Board, which is made up of young people who are looked after or supported by the council.
- Champions Board young people have been involved in developing Stirling’s Promise Plan 21-24 and have noted a positive change in culture at Stirling Council which demonstrates our progress towards keeping The Promise.
- Taking part in the Tending The Light Festival of Care on 18–22 February 2022 – delivering a range of activities including participation in Stirling Window Wanderland trail with window artwork created by Stirling’s Champions Board young people and partner agencies.
- Pledge postcards designed by Champions Board member Hannah Davidson will be sent to corporate parents as part of the Tending the Light Festival.
The plans to transform how Scotland cares for children and supports families was driven by taking in the views of more than 5,500 people from across the care system, including 2,500 children and young people with lived experience in care.
Making The Promise a reality
Convener of the Children and Young People Committee, Councillor Susan McGill said: “All children have the right to be loved and listened to and we remain committed to making The Promise a reality for all children and young people in the Council area.
“We are incredibly grateful and proud of all Stirling Council’s Children’s Services teams who go above and beyond to support our care experienced young people.
“Many of the aims of The Promise are already enshrined in the key priorities of Stirling’s Children’s Services Plan and we are working every day to ensure that every child is looked after in a loving, nurturing environment."
Upholding the rights of children
Vice Convenor, Councillor Christine Simpson, said: “As a Council we make the needs of Stirling’s care experienced young people a priority and seek the same outcomes for them as any good parent would want for their own children.
“The care we deliver to the children and young people in Stirling always aims to be loving, nurturing and uphold children’s rights, while being led by the child rather than a top-down approach from adults to young people.
“We will continue to follow the guiding principles of The Promise and deliver on our own pledge to ensure every child grows up feeling loved, safe and respected.”