Young blood needed for panel

Monklands residents are being asked to consider joining the children’s panel – which is especially seeking volunteers aged between 18 and 25.

Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) is running a recruitment campaign for the next month, with 170 new people needed across Lanarkshire and Glasgow.

It promotes the “positive contribution each and every person can make to impact a child’s life” and also seeks to recruit more men to the volunteer role.

CHS national convener Boyd McAdam said: “Children and young people attending hearings have told us that they want to see more diversity among panel members; and in particular, they’re keen to see more young people to whom they can potentially relate.

“We feel it’s important to recruit as many young people as possible to ensure we’re doing the very best for those who experience the hearings system and this year we’re also looking to recruit more men to the panel.

“Members are required to deal with a range of different cases which can often be very complex.

“We’re looking for a diverse range of people who can make important and difficult decisions and ensure that the rights of the child or young person are respected.”

A total of 2500 volunteer panel members conducted more than 32,000 hearings in the year to March, supporting more than 14,000 children and young people.

Recruitment Boyd McAdam is looking for more young people to join the panel