Young people with care experience tell us what matters to them

Overview

Following publication of the Police Scotland Corporate Parenting Plan 2024 - 2027, Police Scotland commissioned the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) to engage with Care Experienced Young People to help Police Scotland understand how best they can communicate with Care Experienced Young People and raise awareness of the Corporate Parenting Plan. The aim of this project was to understand Care Experienced Young People’s views and experiences to inform Police Scotland’s communication and awareness-raising plans in relation to Corporate Parenting.

What is a Corporate Parenting Plan?

A Corporate Parenting Plan is a document that sets out how organisations identified under the 2014 Children and Young People Act such as local authorities (councils), colleges, universities, the NHS and Police Scotland act as Corporate Parents, to support and meet the needs of Care Experienced young people within their communities.

How did SYP engage Care Experienced young people as part of this project?

SYP carried out workshops with two groups of Care Experienced Young People aged 14-18 in Saltcoats and Dundee. During the two workshops, each group explored how young people liked to be communicated with; Identified barriers young people might face when communicating; How young people would like Police Scotland to communicate with them going forward; and what Police Scotland could include in their communications about the Corporate Parenting Plan.

What did the young people tell us?

The findings from these workshops highlighted the importance of listening to Care Experienced Young People to ensure their voices shape how Police Scotland communicates with young people and deliver on its Corporate Parenting responsibilities.

The findings have shown that Care Experienced Young People value clear, empathetic, and trauma-informed communication, and want to be treated as equals. The young people shared practical ideas for improving engagement; from using accessible language and working with trusted adults, to creating opportunities for dialogue between young people and police officers in schools and community settings.

Five case studies, developed from user journey mapping activities illustrated the real challenges young people face and the impact that interactions with police can have on their trust, confidence, and wellbeing. By implementing the recommendations outlined in this report, Police Scotland can strengthen relationships with Care Experienced Young People, reduce unnecessary criminalisation, and ensure that every interaction promotes young people’s safety, respect, and understanding.

Children and young people’s meaningful participation is not a one-off exercise but their right, as outlined in Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and should be an ongoing commitment. Continued collaboration with young people and partners will be essential to ensure Police Scotland’s Corporate Parenting Plan delivers on its promise to make the lives of Scotland’s Care Experienced Young People the best they can be. Police Scotland recognises the important role we have in ensuring all children and young people grow up loved, safe and respected.

Inspector Juliet Henderson from Police Scotland’s Children and Young People team, reflected on the work by saying:

“I believe young people are experts in their own lives, and their voices must be at the heart of the decisions that affect them. Working alongside the Scottish Youth Parliament has given us the opportunity to listen directly to care experienced children and young people, and to better understand what works, what doesn’t and what needs to change. Their contributions have directly shaped recommendations within our Corporate Parenting Plan, and we’re committed to making sure those insights lead to real action.

As a service, we know we must keep improving, especially in how we communicate, so that our messages are clear, inclusive and meaningful for care experienced children and young people across Scotland. I’m truly grateful to the Scottish Youth Parliament and to every young person who shared their time, ideas and experiences – their voices are helping Police Scotland move forward in the right way.”