Over the past three months, our incredible Health Rights Defenders have been working in partnership with the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS) and the brilliant team at Media Education to create a powerful piece of media about what it is really like to be a child or young person with a health condition in Scotland—and how this can impact their education.
This project wasn’t simply about filmmaking, editing, or collage‑making. It was about truth‑telling. It was about bravery. And above all, it was about ensuring that adults in power finally listen. Through creative workshops, interviews, and hands‑on media sessions, our young people transformed their lived experiences into a meaningful and authentic film that reflects their realities with clarity, emotion, and strength.
What We Learned From Our Young People
Across the workshops, our Health Rights Defenders shared experiences that far too many young people with health conditions face every day. Their stories highlighted barriers that continue to prevent many schools from being safe, inclusive, and rights‑respecting environments.
They told us about:
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Missing schoolwork that doesn’t appear on Google Classroom, leaving them behind academically through no fault of their own.
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Locked or inaccessible toilets, including disabled toilets being repurposed as staff toilets, making them unavailable to the young people who actually need them.
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Lifts being locked or out of use, leaving those with mobility or fatigue conditions unable to reach classrooms on time—only to be blamed for being late.
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A lack of sensory‑safe spaces, leaving neurodivergent or medically vulnerable pupils without the supportive environments they need to feel safe, regulated, and grounded.
Each of these experiences directly connects to the rights outlined in our My Health, My Rights Charter, reinforcing why schools across Scotland must become truly #HealthRightsAware.
Our young people weren’t sharing these stories for sympathy—they were sharing them to spark real and lasting change.
Their Voices, Their Words
One of the most meaningful parts of this project was the involvement of Nicola, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland, who took time to listen deeply and respectfully to each Health Rights Defender.
Here’s what our young people said about the experience:
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Elodie: “I really liked working on our collages, especially the birds! It was great to be listened to.”
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Ruaridh: “I think it’s really cool that Nicola came and listened to what we had to say. It made me feel important and listened to.”
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Niamh: “Maybe one day I can be the Commissioner, just like Nicola, and help even more. It’s really important and makes me proud to be a Health Rights Defender.”
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Isha: “This is what the Health Rights Defenders are for—to share our experiences and have adults listen and pay attention.”
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Malak: “As a young person with a health condition it’s really important to me that people in education listen to what we need, not assume what we need. Not being able to access a toilet is really worrying. I hope our voices create a change.”
These reflections are more than comments. They are declarations of identity, agency, and hope.
A Night at the Movies: Celebrating Our Health Rights Defenders
To mark the end of this inspiring project, Elaine, Ezmie, and Nicola hosted a very special Night At The Movies celebration for our Health Rights Defenders and their grown‑ups.
The celebration included:
🍿 A special cinema‑style screening of the two films created during the project
🎉 Games and activities for families to enjoy together
🖼️ A heartfelt presentation of framed collages, honouring each young person’s creativity, honesty, and contribution
💬 One‑to‑one moments with Nicola, who spent time with every Health Rights Defender, listening carefully to their thoughts, stories, and hopes for change
It was a joyful, emotional, and empowering evening—one that celebrated not just what our young people created, but who they are.
We want to extend our warmest thanks to Elaine, Ezmie, and Nicola, and to everyone who welcomed us, supported our young people, and truly listened to what they had to say.
Moving Forward
The films created through this partnership with CYPCS and Media Education will now help teachers, school leaders, and decision‑makers across Scotland understand what real inclusion looks like—and why being #HealthRightsAware matters.
We are incredibly proud of every young person involved. Their courage, creativity, and honesty are shaping a Scotland where children and young people with health conditions are truly seen, heard, and supported.
