You can help kids get the support they need
Appeal goes out for more Children’s Panel volunteers
A campaign to recruit volunteers who want to make a difference to children’s lives has been launched.
Members of the Children’s Panel, which is unique to Scotland, make vital decisions at a children’s hearing to help youngsters who are in need of care or who have offended.
Of the cases heard, 82 per cent are non- offence and concern the care and protection of young people. The remaining 18 per cent are for offences committed by young people.
Almost a quarter of cases, 22 per cent, are about very young children aged three and under.
Each hearing is a lay tribunal involving three volunteer members of the panel, which must include one man and one woman, and a recruitment drive is now under way to sign up more volunteers in Renfrewshire.
Scott Reilly, 44, finished his training in April.
He lives with his partner, Alison Kinnaird, and his four kids, aged from 13 to 17, in Linwood.
It was Alison who suggested he volunteer for the Children’s Panel after he and his own youngsters were helped by it.
He said: “The children came to live with me full-time through the Children’s Panel. “That’s how I became involved. “I’d heard of it when I was younger, horror stories that if you went in front of it you would get locked away.
“I decided to give it a bash through watching what they did with my children’s lives.”
Scott, who is a care assistant with Carewatch Renfrewshire, is about to start studying at West College Scotland to become a social worker after his panel experience.
He said: “It’s different because I actually know how some of the parents and the children are feeling because I’ve been there.
“They can feel everybody is against them.
“But the Children’s Panel is there to do what’s best and ensure the children and their families get the help they need.”
Volunteers need to go through training and if they’re working, may need to take time off from employment to sit on hearings.
Retired aviation industry manager Alex MacDonald, 58, said although he doesn’t get paid to be a part of the Children’s Panel, it’s the best “pay packet” he’s ever had.
He said: “A friend of mine has been a panel member for several years and she encouraged me to apply after I retired a few years ago,” he explained.
“I wanted to stay active and, at the same time, I wanted to help children and young people in the community I live.
“It’s extremely rewarding. It takes a lot of time and dedication, but you can have a positive impact on the lives of young people in the community and that’s fantastic.
“You don’t get any financial remuneration but the satisfaction you get from helping a young person is the best pay packet I have ever had.”
Alex admits he’s never had experience of the care system or social work but that the variety of backgrounds from panel members is important to making the system work. He explained: “I didn’t have any knowledge of these kind of services at all. What makes it unique and interesting is that panel members come from all different professions and backgrounds, which is great.
“Folk have got a different perspective and they bring a lot of talent to the panel as well.”
Scott and Alex have both encouraged more men to get involved in the panel.
“It’s serious decisions you’re making. It’s not to be taken lightly,” said Scott.
“It’s been an unbelievable experience, so far. I’m finding it very rewarding.”
Alex added: “You do need to dedicate some time to it because there’s a lot of paperwork to read prior to a hearing.
“You have to prepare for each individual case and it can take a fair amount of time.
“If you want to help children and young people within the community, you can have an empathetic approach and are able to be a good listener and process information, then it could be the role for you.
“It’s very rewarding and that’s the reason any panel member does it.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a Children’s Panel member can go along to local information evenings in Wallneuk North Church on Thursday, August 31, and Monday, September 11, both at 7pm. Closing date for applications is Tuesday, September 26.
Alternatively, go to www. childrenspanelscotland.org/