New ball game
live in a system that takes care of everything for them as a means of managing risk. A system which doesn’t reflect the process of growing up in a traditional family home.
This can leave them exposed in a world where the rug is pulled out from under them. They’ve left a system which, in seeking to stop things happening to them, hasn’t been able to make enough things happen for them.
This means that people are being left with no guidance, no fall back and with nobody to turn to with life’s challenges. Our members tell us that this leads to them feeling isolated and it’s no surprise that 45 per cent of children in care are assessed as having mental health issues.
The current independent review of care in Scotland has the capacity to make a radical change to how people are cared for in Scotland.
We hope that, while moves like this are welcomed and North Ayrshire Council is to be commended for showing leadership, we can be bolder still in our ambitions – a way of caring for young people that is based not only on protection but on love. As Scotland crash out of yet another World Cup qualifying campaign, viewers of our national team are not able to watch their country play crucial qualifying matches on terrestrial TV.
There can be few other countries in the world where fans are left watching their neighbouring nation play on terrestrial TV, while they are forced to watch their own country on subscription-based TV.
While Scotland managed a last gasp win over Slovakia, Scots viewers were left sampling the delights of England v Slovenia on STV. More and more sport is sadly moving to subscription-based TV channels. The BBC lost rights to show the Open golf to Sky and fans wanting to watch European football have to tune in to BT Sport for Champions and Europa League.
It’s understandable that the SFA will want to do a deal with the highest bidder, but considering England qualifiers are shown for free on ITV, there’s noreasonwhyscotlandgames can’t be shown on one or more terrestrial channel.
We want children in Scotland to be inspired by the athletes they see on TV and a deal for future qualification matches on terrestrial could help us to produce the next stars of the future.
At very least, it’ll encourage more children to go outside, kick a ball and play with friends, maybe leading to us qualifying for a tournament in the future.