Charity chief makes rallying call to third sector and politicians
Scotland’s third sector organisations, civil society and politicians must pool together to tackle homelessness among teenagers.
Ewan Aitken, chief executive of Edinburgh Cyrenians, made the call ahead of a major conference organised by the charity’s Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution (SCCR), being held in Edinburgh today where a leading panel of experts from the worlds of health, law, homelessness charities and politicians will meet.
Last year, nearly 5,000 young people across Scotland became homeless due to family relationship breakdown.
Thousands, he said, would continue to become homeless every year unless the country changes its ingrained attitude towards the issue.
The SCCR, which was launched almost one year ago, is the national resource centre for best practice in conflict resolution, mediation and early intervention work.
We cannot afford as a nation to hide from the impact of conflict, its affects can be devastating.
It has recently had its funding renewed by the Third Sector Early Intervention Fund and the Faculty of Advocates has pledged its support.
Aitken, who will open the conference, said: “We cannot wait one minute longer to address the pervasive problem of conflict in Scottish society.
“We know one in four young people think about running away from home each month because of arguments. A third of parents argue with their teenagers weekly.
"We cannot afford as a nation to hide from the impact of conflict, its affects can be devastating.
“The SCCR is nearly a year old, this is our fifth national conference and over that time we’ve seen commitment from government and a diverse range of organisations, however there is much to be done and we cannot do it alone.”
The conference will see high-profile speakers and delegates gather together to look at the culture of conflict in Scottish society and the impact it has on young people, families and wider problems in the fields of homelessness, criminal justice, health.
Speaking about his backing for the SCCR the dean of the Faculty of Advocates, James Wolffe QC, said: “The Faculty of Advocates has been in the business of dispute resolution for over 400 years.
“Advocates are trained in skills which may be effectively deployed not only in the courtroom but also in other methods of dispute resolution.
“Mediation and other methods of alternative dispute resolution have increasing importance in our justice system - and, more broadly, in seeking to address conflict in our society – and I look forward to the Faculty playing its part in these developments.”
Joining Aitken and Wolffe, speaking at the conference will be Sir Harry Burns, professor of global public health at Strathclyde University; minister for housing and welfare Margaret Burgess; chief executive of The Rock Trust, Kate Polson; Dr Duncan Morrow of the University of Ulster; Dr Rein Sikveland of the University of Loughborough and SCCR patron and chair Drew Drummond.
