Experts by Experience
Just actively listen and find a route for the individual young person to be heard and make a difference. Help us find our voice.
- R, young person
Who we are
We are a group of nine young people, aged 14 to 25, with lived experience of hearings. We are based all over Scotland but regularly come together to influence the work of Children's Hearings Scotland and make a difference. We are supported by the Participation team at CHS to take part in different opportunities to drive forward improvements in practices and standards across the organisation.
Participation Principles
CHS has promised to adhere to the for principles outlined in the Children’s Participation and Rights Strategy: Respect, Inclusion, Empowerment and Accountability. This means that involvement activities will be co-designed and young person led where possible.
Waves of Change
One of the first things we did as a group was to create our logo and pledge. We liked the metaphor of waves as it symbolises strength and movement.
As a group we also agreed on the three priority areas we would like to work on. These are called our Pillars:
- By improving the consistency of panels, all young people will have a fairer and equal experience, making them feel respected and valued
- Young people can thrive if provided with clear and consistent information and support throughout their hearing journey and beyond
- When hearings are trauma informed, it puts the child at the centre. This makes them feel safe, supported and included
Join us as we rebuild the harbour and ride the waves of change.
Our journey so far
After creating the scaffolding for the group in the summer of 2024, we recruited nine Experts from across Scotland between August and December. The Experts first met in March 2025, where we worked with Articulate Hub to create a logo and our pledge. Our pledge is: Real Change, Not Just Words. Rebuild your harbour or the waves of change will come crashing down.
Since our first Board meeting in April 2025, we’ve supported Children’s Hearings Scotland, and volunteers, in many different ways. Those include:
- Helping to create a new recruitment guide
- Contributing to the volunteering strategy
- Interviewing potential CHS Board Members and members of the Senior Leadership Team
- Presenting at the CHS staff day
- Delivering a question and answer session to Panel Members in Glasgow
