Sometimes the most powerful advocacy doesn’t come from reports, policy papers or presentations. It comes from children taking time to sit down, think carefully, and write from the heart.
young people
Bringing Health Rights to Life Through Play in Our Schools
At Children’s Health Scotland, we believe every child should grow up knowing their rights in healthcare and feel confident using their voice when it matters most. Our recent Health Rights visits to Newfield Primary School and Wishaw Academy Primary School were a powerful reminder of just how impactful early learning, play, and rights based education […]
“We Want Change”: Health Rights Defenders Share Their Story Through Film
What does it really feel like to grow up in Scotland today with a health condition — waiting, navigating systems, and too often feeling unheard? On Saturday 30 May, our Health Rights Defenders began to answer that question in their own words, as we came together to watch the first cut of a powerful new […]
MY HEALTH, MY RIGHTS: A NATIONAL SURVEY FOR SCOTLAND’S CHILDREN
For fifty years, Children’s Health Scotland has been listening to what matters most to children and young people about their health and their rights. Through five decades of stories, surveys, programmes, hospital visits, school sessions, and lived experience, one message has never changed: Children and young people know what they need — and their voices […]
Join Our Self-Management Skills (SMS) Programme in Edinburgh
Referrals now open for our next SMS Programme (Ages 9–17) which is being delivered in Edinburgh. Our Self-Management Skills (SMS) Programme is a supportive group experience for children and young people living with health conditions. Delivered over a series of sessions, it helps young people build confidence, develop practical skills to manage their health and […]
Protection Without Participation Is Not Protection: Children’s Health Scotland Responds to Social Media Ban Consultation
Children’s Health Scotland has published its response to the national consultation on proposals to introduce a social media ban for under 16s, drawing directly on the voices of children, young people, parents and carers. While the intention to improve online safety is welcomed, the organisation is urging policymakers to rethink a blanket ban approach, warning that […]
A Wild Adventure from Home: Safari Comes to the SMS HUB
Roaring with excitement and packed with imagination, our latest SMS HUB session took young people on a virtual safari adventure — all from the comfort of home. From spotting “wild” treasures to creating brand-new species, it was a journey full of curiosity, creativity and connection.
What You Don’t See: Health Rights Defenders Reveal the Reality of Growing Up with a Health Condition
This week, our Health Rights Defenders continued their media journey by focusing on something simple yet incredibly powerful. They created posters that show what it is really like to be a child or young person living with a health condition. Funded by Awards for All, this project is rooted in a clear belief. When children […]
Lights, Camera, Listen: Health Rights Defenders Take the Next Step
Our Health Rights Defenders are now officially behind the camera and firmly in the director’s chair. We are excited to begin the next stage of our media project, having appointed Media Education to support this work. This work builds on our shared commitment to listening to children and young people and ensuring their lived experiences […]
Amplifying Young Voices Through Media: Health Rights Defenders Lead the Way
We are excited to be starting a powerful new piece of work with our Health Rights Defenders, thanks to funding from Awards For All from the National Lottery Community Fund. Over the coming weeks, our Health Rights Defenders will be working with Media Education and Children’s Health Scotland to create a piece of media that […]
