Jackie Brock says Scotland's children's sector has proven it is strong enough to influence parties ahead of the Scottish Parliament election
Scotland’s children’s sector has proved time and again that it has the influencing power to change legislation and improve lives.
The Children and Young People Act is one example. From August 2016 there will a legal duty in place to secure wellbeing for children.
This is not just lip service but the consequence of years of work by charities and policymakers. The Act requires all of us responsible for or working with children to focus on prevention, early intervention and achieving improved outcomes for children.
Wellbeing should be the watchword of the next government, and Children in Scotland’s manifesto for 2016-21 makes specific calls in this context.
We are asking MSPs to become #childrightschamps by signing up to the Child Rights Manifesto. It outlines the ways children and young people expect decision-makers to act for them to enjoy their rights as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Food poverty is an area where action in early intervention and prevention would make a vital difference
Jackie Brock
Fully incorporating the UNCRC would mean the current low age of criminal responsibility (eight) and the defence of justifiable assault of a child would be incompatible with Scots law. Is the Scottish Government willing to go this far?
We believe the impact mental health difficulties have on children’s education, and the inadequate levels of child and adolescent mental health provision, have reached a critical point in Scotland.
Our stance is informed by a noticeable increase in the number of calls to Enquire, the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning managed by Children in Scotland. That’s why in our manifesto we call for the appointment of a dedicated ministerial-level post with a mental health remit.
Food poverty is an area where action in early intervention and prevention would make a vital difference.
Our Food, Families and Futures project, focusing on schools with high levels of free school meals in Ibrox and Irvine, is revealing why a lack of intervention to offset poverty in these communities can have such a devastating impact on wellbeing, attainment and life chances.
We also believe a new food policy for children could also build on existing initiatives that help address health inequalities in Scotland, such as the introduction of the Free School Meals Programme for P1-3s.
The current lack of affordability and flexibility in childcare has a penalizing effect on many families, particularly young mothers from poorer backgrounds whose route to further training and employment is too often blocked.
We endorse the Childcare Commission’s radical recommendations on how the status quo can be broken in favour of families and children.
Finally, manifestos aren’t always about campaigning alone. We’re often stronger when we show common cause.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation believes the next government must create a credible roadmap towards the eradication of child poverty, focusing on prevention. So do we.
Manifestos by campaigning charities shouldn’t be dismissed with the same kind of default cynicism many voters regard the pledges of political parties. At their best they can contain the seeds of real legislative change.
Since devolution previous governments have demonstrated they do listen to us. We know changes in policy can change lives. So let’s keep the pressure up – and if you want to be part of our effort, join us.
Jackie Brock is chief executive of Children in Scotland
