Seven young people who are helping to shape improvements to the Children’s Hearings System have visited the Scottish Parliament to share their insights on hearings with the Scottish Government.

It was the first meeting with a Scottish Government Minister for the newly established Experts by Experience group from Children’s Hearings Scotland.

Four Experts by Experience visited the Parliament for the day, alongside members of Our Hearings, Our Voice, the independent board of young people who have been influencing positive change in the hearings system since 2017.

Questions Jenga

The seven young people, who all have lived experience of children’s hearings, met with Natalie Don-Innes MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise. They were given a tour of the Parliament by staff of the office of Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and they watched First Minister’s Questions.

The team shared a game of ‘questions Jenga’ with Ms Don-Innes, where each wooden block removed from the tower had a talking point to spark discussion. These ranged from light-hearted ice-breakers to important issues about improving the hearings system.

'We gave the Minister some quite hard questions, including, in a year’s time what do you see the Children’s Panel being like, and what needs to change? We also discussed what better supports need to be in place for people leaving care and leaving the hearings system.'

– Gemma, Expert by Experience

'Guiding voices'

In 2020, following the Independent Care Review, the Scottish Government and all public bodies made The Promise: that every child and young person in Scotland should grow up safe, loved and respected.

‘I was grateful for the chance to meet with Experts by Experience and Our Hearings, Our Voice. I enjoyed the chance to play questions Jenga with them though some questions were easier to answer than others! It proved a valuable opportunity to listen to their views and reflect on what makes a good hearing. The young people also reiterated to me that it’s important that any changes we make to the hearings system are guided by the voices and expertise of those who have lived experience of the system. 

‘The Promise is about ensuring improvements are felt day to day in the lives of the children and families who have experienced and are experiencing care, and keeping The Promise fits firmly within our ambition for Scotland to be the best place to grow up where children are loved, safe and respected so that they can reach their full potential.’

– Natalie Don-Innes MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise

Driving improvements

The Experts by Experience group was established in March 2025 to help drive forward improvements in practices and standards at CHS. The Experts have already been involved in recruiting CHS Board members, staff members and Panel Members and are influencing CHS’s policy and strategic priorities.

The group consists of nine members, aged 14–25, with lived experience of hearings. Members are based all over Scotland but regularly come together to drive forward improvements.

These young people really are the experts when it comes to children’s hearings, and it’s important that those working to improve the system, from our own organisation to elected representatives, hear from those who have been through it.

‘It was brilliant to hear the conversations today and for these young people to build relationships with senior leaders.’

– Alice Wadkin, Lived Experience Advisor

Natalie Don-Innes, centre, with the young people and CHS colleagues