Protecting Children’s Rights Through Financial Decision-Making: A Local Authority Perspective

Date: 11th November 2025
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, Respect for the views of the child
Author:

A newly published report offers fresh insight into how Scotland’s public finances could be better aligned with the rights and wellbeing of children. The study, produced by the Observatory of Children’s Human Rights Scotland in partnership with the Improvement Service, draws on an action-inquiry involving local authority finance leads, health board officials and other public sector actors. The inquiry shows the determination among public bodies for embedding a children’s rights-based approach into budgeting. It identifies practical challenges and opportunities for improvement. The report presents a set of recommendations to support local and national authorities in Scotland to move from ambition to action, for example, by training finance staff, improving data on children’s outcomes, and making budget processes more transparent and participative. By spotlighting how budgets can support children’s rights, the inquiry helps bridge the gap between commitments on paper and their impact in practice.

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Scottish Children’s Health Week 2025

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative Care
Author:

Scottish Children’s Health Week 2025 will run from 1 st to 7 th September 2025, celebrating the health and wellbeing of children and young people across Scotland. The week highlights every child’s right to the best possible health, with a new theme each day encouraging children to be active, brave, calm, happy, friendly, kind and helpful.

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New children’s mental health podcast covers manosphere, autism, anxiety, loneliness and more

Date: 27th May 2025
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative Care
Author:

The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) has launched ‘Mind the Kids’, a new podcast series featuring accessible expert discussions on a range of vital topics for those working with children and young people.

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New resources: Scotland marks 20 years of work to understand childhood trauma

Date: 11th February 2025
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative Care
Author:

This year marks two decades since Scotland began its journey to understand Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their impact on young lives.

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New report: children, violence and vulnerability 2024

Date: 23rd January 2025
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative Care
Author:

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has published its third annual Children, Violence and Vulnerability report, shedding light on the challenges faced by teenagers aged 13-17 in England and Wales.

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New report on concerns about Scottish welfare fund

Date: 11th December 2024
Category: Basic Health and Welfare
Author:

This report examines concerns by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman on the impact of the Scottish Welfare fund (SWF) and it’s use of the High Most Compelling (HMC) priority rating, revealing concerns about fairness and consistency in how support is distributed.

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New report highlights Human Rights concerns in the Highlands and Islands

Date: 11th December 2024
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, General principles, General measures of implementation
Author: Scottish Human Rights Commission

The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has published a report assessing the state of economic, social, and cultural rights in the Highlands and Islands. The report draws on testimonies from locals and evaluates rights related to work, housing, health, social security, food, education, and culture.

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New report on disabled children and young people’s experiences in social work services

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, General measures of implementation
Author: Care Inspecorate

The Care Inspectorate has published a thematic review to understand the pressing need for improved support for disabled children and young people across Scotland. The report aimed to learn and understand more about disabled children and young people’s views and experiences of the support they receive from social work services with the main focus on social work’s contribution to getting it right for every disabled child and consider how well disabled children’s rights were being respected and upheld. The most significant barriers found were high demand for services and pressure on resources.

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Befriending Week 2024

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Basic Health and Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative Care
Author:

Befriending Week, the national campaign to celebrate and raise awareness of befriending, kicks off from 1st to 7th November 2024. Established in 2012 by Befriending Networks, the week highlights the positive impact befriending has on individuals and communities, helping to tackle isolation and build lasting connections.

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Free online platform for child and adolescent mental health Professionals

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General measures of implementation
Author:

The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) has introduced ACAMH Learn , a free, online learning platform designed to support professionals working in child and adolescent mental health. The platform offers a wide range of evidence-based content, including videos, podcasts, lectures, and Q&As, from over 200 world-leading experts.

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