Step 6: The views of children and young people
“All children and young people have the right to have their opinions listened to and taken seriously in all matters affecting them.”
– Article 12, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Children and young people from Armed Forces families are recognised as a distinct group who are potentially vulnerable and whose views are very often overlooked.
Therefore, it is very important that they are given appropriate opportunities to share their views, have them listened to by people who are willing to support them, take action on their behalf and empower them to take action themselves.
Resources
Listen to what we say
In these presentations from Forces Children Scotland (formally RCET), young people from Armed Forces families talk openly about some of the issues affecting them and which may impact their lives and their learning. Topics covered include being separated from a family member during deployment and their experiences of school support.
Teen Talks
Teenagers from Armed Forces families wanted to come together to discuss issues that are important to them and develop some resources which could be shared with all secondary schools across Scotland to raise awareness of the issues which they may face as a result of being part of an Armed Forces family. The first Teen Talks leaflet includes top tips for their families, their school, and their communities. The second leaflet highlights the issue of language – words and phrases that they use but are often misunderstood or not understood by their teachers and their civilian peers.
The third and fourth leaflets feature the views of much younger children aged between 3 and 11 years old.
Download the Teen, Pre-Teen and Teeny talks presentations from the Forces Children Scotland website below.
Reflective questions
- Thinking about your own practice in relation to the UNCRC legislation, what do you do to ensure that children and young people from Armed Forces families get opportunities to have their voices heard?
- Reflecting on your own practice, how do you ensure that what children and young people from Armed Forces families say is translated into action that will improve their educational experiences?
- How do you know if the actions you are taking are making a difference?