Our mascot Bear alongside two of our staff, Rhianne Forrest and Niki Smith, recently visited the wonderful Health Rights Defenders in S1, S2 and S5/6 for Bishopbriggs Academy’s Rights Respecting School Week. They spoke about My Health, My Rights and the EACH Charter in a fun and interactive assembly, focusing on their rights respecting school status.
Commenting on the visit, Rhianne said: “From 10-14 February 2025 Bishopbriggs Academy focus on how they are a Rights Respecting School and make sure their young people know all about the United Nations Convention On The Rights Of The Child (UNCRC) with activities planned by pupils such as a compliment chain and an odd socks day! The young people invited us to their school as they have kindly chosen us as their Charity Of The Year and wanted to make sure their classmates knew all about health rights and the importance of My Health, My Rights. We were able to deliver a fun and interactive assembly to over 900 young people throughout the week talking about our favourite things such as the EACH Charter and our My Health, My Rights children and young people’s Charter.”
Our My Health, My Rights children and young people’s Charter has been created by children and young people living with health conditions in Scotland. In no particular order, it shows their 10 most important health rights. Those who took part were aged 5-18 and were children and young people from our SMS Programmes who are living with a health condition, Burgh Primary School, Cranhill Primary School, Wishaw Academy Primary School, Langbank Primary School and the Royal Hospital For Children in Glasgow. We now offer assemblies and school visits alongside trainings based on the Charter and take the led from our young volunteer group also known as our Health Rights Defenders. When a school take part in activities around My Health, My Rights that we host they get to join our Health Rights Defenders! Raising money also means schools can join, Bishopbriggs Academy have a goal of raising £15,000 for us can you can donate here.
Young People got to feedback on why they think My Health, My Rights is important for children and young people to have
“I think children’s health rights are important because it keep the child happy and safe.”
“Children’s health rights are important because even though we are kids they still show we are human and need to feel safe for the best possible health.”
“I think children’s health rights are important because all children should be free and can have fun even when sick.”
“My Health, My Rights is important because it shows children, no matter if we are sick, that we matter and have a voice.”
“My Health, My Rights is important because if a generation didn’t have it, then the next generation wouldn’t either and they wouldn’t realise how important they are. It empowers children to use their voice, so future generations don’t have to work as hard to defend their rights.”
“I think every child deserves to know about My Health, My Rights – because it belongs to children and it is our voices.”
If you would like a My Health, My Rights School visit then you can email us on CYPHRS@childrenshealthscotland.org
