Information Bulletin
04 October 2004
The Children's Charter
Another visit to Shetland from Ross Drummond of the Scottish Executive Child Protection Action Team will take place over the weekend of 22-24 October. Ross is working with Shetland Child Protection Committee to inform people about the work his team is doing nationally.
Shetland's Child Protection Co-ordinator Helen Watkins explained that the team's work nationally fits well with work being done locally. This is aimed at helping everyone working with children take care of them in the best way possible, whatever their particular needs, and to increase awareness across the whole of Shetland about how families and children can get help when they need it.
As previously reported, Fiona Robertson has been appointed to manage a local project to assist voluntary organisations in developing child protection and safety guidelines suitable for use in their organisations. Fiona will work with a steering group reporting to Shetland's multi-agency Child Protection Committee, and includes representation from Shetland Council of Social Service. The Project will help groups meet the new national standards and fulfil their responsibilities under the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003.
Ross will lead awareness training on the Child Protection Charter and Framework for Standards, with meetings in Lerwick on Fri 22 and Sun 24 October, and in Brae on Sat 23 October. The training is by invitation only and is aimed at voluntary organisations' Managers, Project Co-ordinators, and those who have management responsibility for staff within their organisation and are responsible for staff development and training needs. Unpaid volunteers, who lead a range of activities for young people in community groups - such as sports clubs, music groups, uniformed organisations, parent and toddler groups, etc., are also being invited to send a member of their organisation to attend these sessions.
There are a few spaces left, so if you are a member of such a group which has not already received an invitation, and would like one, please telephone Bruce Family Centre, 01595 697460, where the Childcare Partnership is co-ordinating arrangements on behalf of the Child Protection Committee.
NOTE TO PRESS: Further information from: Dr Sarah Taylor, Chair of Shetland Child Protection Committee, Tel: 01595 743072, Stephen Morgan on 01595 744400.
Ends