A celebration of the work and achievements of Hearings experienced children and young people took place in Glasgow on 22nd October 2025. The event marks 10 years since plans got underway to develop a board of children and young people for the Children’s Hearings System.
The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Natalie Don-Innes MSP attended ‘Rise Up’ which was held in the Royal Concert Hall.
Taking place in the build up to Care Experienced Week, Rise Up was all about celebrating and listening to the voices of care and Hearings-experienced children and young people.
The event was led by the young board members from Our Hearings, Our Voice and attended by representatives from all organisations who support children with care experience.
Board member Jamie said: “It is a celebration of all these young people coming together and really show adults and professionals what it is like to be care experienced and I think it should be a big celebration of how far we have come.”
Fellow board member Achilles added: “I hope that the conference will make young people and professionals leave with a sense of understanding that things are changing.”
A brand new interactive, online guide ‘Seeing Beyond the Surface’ was launched at the event Guide – Our Hearings, Our Voice The guide has been created by young people from Our Hearings, Our Voice, built on their research with young people across Scotland.
Seeing Beyond the Surface is what children and young people wish all adults knew. The guide explores six key themes, brought to life through the voices and creative expressions of children and young people through written quotes, videos, artwork, poetry and voice recordings.
Gordon Main, Project Lead at Our Hearings, Our Voice explained: “The guide is aimed at adults who work with children in any capacity; teachers, healthcare workers, care providers, police, social workers, and more.
“We hope adults will be inspired by children’s voices to ‘see beyond the surface’, improve practice where they can and strengthen the good work they already do to ensure that every child and young person in care receives the care and support they need.”
Amy Miskimmin-Logan, Participation Development Worker at Our Hearings, Our Voice, added: “A key strength of ‘Seeing Beyond the Surface’ is the powerful and heartfelt expression of children and young people’s lived truth, told through their own creativity. Poetry, artwork, voice recordings, written quotes, videos, and rap allow adults to experience, feel and explore solutions, based on young people’s expertise. It is an honest expression of their emotions: frustration, joy disappointment, and love are evident throughout.”
If you would like more information or to comment or contribute to the guide, please contact Amy.Miskimmin-Logan@scra.gov.uk
