A recent BBC Scotland article shared the experience of 19-year-old Casey Smith from Renfrewshire, who described spending years applying for jobs, attending Job Centre appointments and searching for opportunities while feeling as though she had been “going round and round in circles”. Despite applying for hundreds of jobs and actively seeking work, Casey spoke openly about the frustration, pressure and loss of confidence that can come from feeling stuck between support services and employment opportunities. Her story highlights an important issue affecting young people across Scotland.
According to the latest Annual Participation Measure published by Skills Development Scotland,
- 93.6% of 16 to 19-year-olds were participating in education, employment or training in 2025-26.
- While this is encouraging, around 8,500 young people were not participating, with a further 6,000 young people’s destinations remaining unknown.
Behind every statistic is a young person with their own ambitions, talents, hopes and challenges.
At Children’s Health Scotland, Casey’s experience raises an important question:
What happens when a young person is already facing additional barriers because of a long-term health condition, disability or mental health challenge?
The Transition to Adulthood Can Be More Complex for Young People with Health Conditions
For many young people, the move towards adulthood involves making decisions about education, training, employment, healthcare and independence.
For young people managing a long-term health condition, those decisions can be significantly more complex.
Many of the children and young people we work alongside tell us they worry about:
- Missing school because of appointments or treatment.
- Falling behind their peers.
- Managing their health alongside education or work.
- Moving from children’s to adult healthcare services.
- Future employment opportunities.
- Confidence and independence.
- Being understood by professionals, employers and support services.
These concerns are not unique to one individual. They are themes we hear repeatedly through our Health Rights work and from the young people involved in our Health Rights Defenders.
What Young People Told Us Through On My Way
These concerns also featured strongly in our My Way | A Picture of Children’s Health Rights Across Scotland, which is our National Health Rights Report , which explored the experiences and priorities of young people transitioning from children’s to adult healthcare services.
Young people told us that successful transitions are about far more than healthcare alone.
They wanted:
- Better information.
- Earlier preparation for adult life.
- More joined-up support.
- Greater involvement in decisions affecting them.
- Opportunities to build confidence and independence.
- Services that listen to and act on their experiences.
Reading Casey’s story, it is striking how closely some of these themes align. Her frustration was not simply about finding a job. It was about feeling unsupported despite doing everything she could to move forward.
Rhianne Forrest, Children’s Health Scotland Officer, said:
The experiences shared in the BBC article will resonate with many of the children and young people we work alongside. While the latest participation statistics tell us how many young people are in education, employment or training, they cannot tell the stories behind the numbers.
Through our Health Rights Defenders, young people with lived experience of long-term health conditions have spoken about the challenges of missed education, lengthy waiting times, anxiety and uncertainty about their future. These barriers can have a lasting impact on confidence, independence and opportunities as young people move towards adulthood.
For those under the age of 18, this is not only an issue of participation, it is a children’s rights issue. Under Scotland’s commitment to the UNCRC, every child has the right to education, health and to have their voice heard. Children should not be disadvantaged because of their health condition, and it is vital that services work together to support positive transitions into adulthood. Listening to children and young people is not optional; it is essential if we are to build systems that truly meet their needs.
A Children’s Rights Issue
For young people under the age of 18, these issues are also about rights.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), every child has the right to:
- The highest attainable standard of health.
- Education.
- To have their views heard and taken seriously.
- Support to help them achieve their full potential.
Children and young people with health conditions should not face additional barriers to these rights because of their health.
Yet through our work, we continue to hear from young people who feel their experiences are not always understood and that the systems designed to support them can feel difficult to navigate.
Listening to Young People’s Voices
Our Health Rights Defenders have consistently highlighted how health conditions can affect education, wellbeing, confidence and future opportunities.
Many have spoken about:
- Missing education because of treatment or appointments.
- Anxiety linked to school attendance.
- The impact of waiting for support.
- Concerns about future employment and independence.
- The need to be listened to and involved in decisions.
Their message is clear: health conditions should not limit a young person’s opportunities or future aspirations.
Supporting Positive Futures
At Children’s Health Scotland, we believe that preparing young people for adulthood starts long before they leave children’s services.
Through our Self-Management Skills Programmes, Health Rights Defenders and reports such as On My Way, we support children and young people to build confidence, understand their rights, strengthen self-advocacy skills and prepare for important life transitions.
The latest Skills Development Scotland statistics remind us that while many young people are thriving, thousands continue to face barriers to participation.
Casey’s story is a powerful reminder that behind every statistic is a young person trying to build their future.
For young people living with long-term health conditions, those barriers can be even greater.
If we want every young person to have the opportunity to thrive, we must continue listening to their experiences, supporting positive transitions and ensuring that health, education and employment systems work together to meet their needs.
Because no young person should feel as though they are going round and round in circles when trying to take the next step in their life.
Do you know a child or young person with a long term health condition aged 9-17 who might need a little extra support? You can contact Niki on sms@childrenshealthscotland.org to find out more.
