16-18-year-olds: influence and inspire the Commissioner’s Strategic Plan review

Date: 21st August 2017
Category: General measures of implementation, Respect for the views of the child

The Commissioner's office is reviewing its Strategic Plan - and they're looking for six Young Advisers to help them shape the process.

By law, the Commissioner must ask children and young people about the work he decides to do and how he plans to do it. In September, the office will start working with lots of different groups of children and young people to help make this happen. Their ideas will help create a revised Strategic Plan, which the Commissioner's office will lay before Parliament in January next year.

How you can help

The Commissioner's office would like to ask six Young Advisers to help them with their work. These young people will act as a team, and will all be involved in taking the Plan to the Scottish Parliament.

They will also be split into three groups of two to work in the following areas:

  • Monitoring and Evaluating, to keep an eye on the Commissioner's progress and check that the office is doing what they set out to do;
  • Communications and Digital Media, to help make sure they promote progress in ways that are dynamic, up to date and suitable for a wide range of age and abilities, and;
  • Event Planning, to help with a big event in November where children and young people can meet the Commissioner and talk about the Plan.

What you'll get

Through being a Young Adviser, you'll get:

  • a meaningful chance to help shape the future work of the new Children's Commissioner;
  • a personal reference from the Commissioner;
  • £100 of vouchers at the project's end;
  • registration of your hours as volunteering hours for Young Scot points;
  • support from experienced staff in the Commissioner's team, and;
  • the opportunity to meet new people.

All expenses will be paid.

Who the Commissioner's Office is looking for

  • The Young Advisers project is open to:anyone between 16 and 18, and
  • anyone between 16 and 21 who is care experienced.
    Ideally, you will be both enthusiastic about the human rights of children and young people and used to giving your opinion.

You'll need be able to take part between September 2017 and March 2018. You'll also need to be able to travel to meetings in Edinburgh, and the Commissioner's Office will pay any travel costs.

Members of the Commissioner's team will support you throughout the project.

What your time will involve

You will be asked to commit around 8 hours a month to being a Young Adviser, although this can be negotiated with the member of staff supporting you.

Each month, you'll take part in a whole group meeting with the other Young Advisers, and two or three specialist meetings in your group of two. Meetings will be arranged at times that suit everyone - such as after 4, or at weekends - and refreshments will always be provided.

Questions about the project

You can contact youngadvisers@cypcs.org.uk with any questions you have about the project or being a Young Adviser. The Commissioner's Office will get back to you as soon as they can.

How to apply

To apply, contact youngadvisers@cypcs.org.uk and complete the following three steps:

  1. Tell CYPCS what you think is the most important issue facing young people in Scotland today.
  2. Tell them why you'd like to be a Young Adviser.
  3. Complete an "I'm Interested" form and send it to CYPCS along with your answers.

You can send your answers in written or recorded form.

The deadline for applications is midday on Monday 4 September.

The Commissioner's Office will look at all the forms and get back to everyone who applies. If you're shortlisted to be a Young Adviser, you will be contacted for a follow-up call by phone, Skype or Facetime.