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Saints stars back appeal to help kids living tough lives
The campaign to recruit more volunteers to Scotland’s unique children’s panel took to the pitch as St Mirren FC backed the drive.
More volunteers – particularly men – are needed to make sure the children’s hearing system can keep operating.
In Renfrewshire, nearly 1,600 children’s hearings took place last year to help secure stable futures for children living tough lives.
Of the cases heard at children’s panels across Scotland, 82 per cent are non-offence and concern the care and protection of youngsters.
The remaining 18 per cent deal with offences committed by young people.
Almost a quarter of cases, 22 per cent, concern very young children aged three and under.
Tony Fitzpatrick, chief executive of St Mirren FC is keen to support the recruitment campaign.
He told the Paisley Daily Express: “Children are our future. Although we’re a football club, we’re a family community club.
“People are taken into care through all different circumstances. We all need support at times in our lives. “Any support we can give, we will.” He added: “More men should get involved. Our own manager Jack Ross said he heard the advert looking for volunteers on the radio and it affected him. This sort of thing touches everybody.
“Most people are fortunate to go through life with a stable family and upbringing but a lot of people aren’t that lucky. They’re the ones who need our continued care and support.”
Tony met with young people who have come through the care system and currently work with the charity, Who Cares Scotland? in Renfrewshire.
Alice Ferguson, 20 is an ambassador for Who Cares Scotland? and also interviews volunteers for the children’s panel.
She said: “I didn’t have a great experience with the children’s panel and I’d like to make it better for other people.
“We need people who care, that’s really important. You’re making really important decisions in young people’s lives that they have no influence over.
“The volunteers need to be more understanding and child- friendly. You need to be committed in your head to it because you’re making big decisions about care experienced people who haven’t had the best start in life.
“You need to put the young person first as well. When I went to panel, no-one ever spoke to me or asked me how I was doing or what I was up to.
“Simple things like that can make a difference to how you’re feeling.”
Michael Higgins, 17, went to children’s panels when he was younger while James Park, 16, is still attending every couple of months.
James said: “I’ve been going to the
People are taken into care through different circumstances. We all need support at times in our lives Tony Fitzpatrick
children’s panel for 10 years, since I was a wee guy.
“It was through my dad drinking and that kind of thing.
“Some people don’t have a good experience of the children’s panel, mine was alright. I think it does help people.”
Kareen Stewart, 19, said being involved with Who Cares Scotland? has helped her understand her children’s panel experience better.
She said: “I’ve been to panels when I was a lot younger, I didn’t really know much about them. When I started working for Who Cares Scotland? I understood them a lot more.
“It made me realise the way it would have been when I was younger.
“People in care know what they need to thrive.
“If the youngsters it is actually helping are involved in picking the people making the decisions, then that’s the best way forward.”
Two information evenings are being held on Thursday, August 31, and Monday, September 11, at Wallneuk North Church Hall, Paisley, at 7pm, for those interested in meeting existing panel members and finding out more about the role.
Alison Thompson, mum of former St Mirren player Stephen Thompson, is a former primary school teacher and has been involved in the children’s panel for the last five years as part of the Renfrewshire Area Support Team.