Passing on the Baton

My belief that every child should have the chance to thrive, has been the root of almost all my professional and personal decisions about where to put my time and energies over the past 40 years.

As an educationalist, the summer holidays have usually been a time for taking stock and looking forward. So, as I approach the end of one of the proudest roles of my life, as Chair of Children 1st’s Board, this seems like a fitting moment to reflect on  some of the biggest highlights of my six year term and to invite a new generation to come forward to take on the crucial role of steering this tenacious, ambitious, and dynamic charity through all that lies ahead for Scotland’s children and families.

It has been a real privilege for me to have shared in some incredibly impressive Children 1st achievements alongside children and their families during my term as Chair.  Realising an end to the physical punishment of children in Scots law, continuing to support families with their most urgent needs through the pandemic, and developing Scotland’s first Bairns Hoose for child victims and witnesses, are just three of the many highlights that trustees, colleagues, volunteers and partners should be extremely proud of.  

Our work to secure an end to the physical punishment of children in Scots law first began in the 1980s. Through Conservative and Labour Governments at Westminster and then the varying devolved Governments at Holyrood, Children 1st continued to maximise opportunities, grow coalitions, build the evidence and take the actions needed to ensure that children’s rights to be free from every form of violence is upheld in Scots law. 

And only five years ago, colleagues were told that it would take another 20 years to bring Bairns Hoose to Scotland. Today, thanks to the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery through the Dream Trust, we are well on our way to opening the country’s first Bairns Hoose, which we intend to develop as a Centre of Excellence to transform Scotland’s entire system of justice, care, protection and recovery support for children who are victims and witnesses of crime. 

One of the things I treasure most about Children 1st is the level of ambition that the charity holds for every child in Scotland and their family, sustaining the great vision of our founders over a hundred and thirty years ago. Everything we do is rooted in what is right for children and families or, to put it another way, what children and families tell us they want and need to respect their rights to be safe, loved, well and together.   

We pride ourselves on doing what’s right, not what’s easy. 

When this was put to the ultimate test, in the shape of an unexpected and unprecedented pandemic, we held fast to this principle. As other local support for families closed, we flexed and adapted our approach so that we could continue to offer the immediate practical, financial and emotional support that children and families needed to get through. We were there, where families needed us – on their doorsteps, in their gardens, at their local park and online. At the time, many families across the country told us that Children 1st was their only lifeline. I was so proud at how our staff stepped up to the mark despite many of their own personal challenges.

I am honoured to have played such a key part in Children 1st’s work at such a point in history and to help lead the charity to the strong position it is in today.  

Of course, I’m under no illusion about what lies ahead. The rising levels of child poverty and the cost of living crisis, the impact of structural inequality and racism that persists in our society, and the devastating impact of the isolation and missed milestones which the pandemic wrought on children and families means that the levels of need, challenge and change that families face are higher than ever.  

If we are to continue to be there for families the charity will need to continue to adapt, and to do that we need a Board that is equipped and ready to make the bold decisions that will support Children 1st to meet the challenges that families face head on. 

That’s why last year, I and my fellow Trustees made a personal commitment to review our governance structures. Since then, we have been working hard to create the conditions to ensure that going forward Children 1st’s Board is inclusive and reflects Scotland’s children and families in all their diversity. 

The mark of a good Trustee is that they can recognise when it is time to pass the baton on to others with the expertise, skills and experiences that will ensure the charity will continue to make the right, forward-thinking decisions for the people they are there to serve. 

For myself, and several of my colleagues on the Board, it is time to pass that baton on. And before we do so, I want to thank my colleagues again for all their support in making decisions to do what’s right for children and families, rather than what’s easy.  

That’s why we’re now recruiting to four Trustee positions on the Board. We are particularly keen to invite people who may have relevant and rich skills, knowledge and experience but who may never have considered joining a charity Board to apply. We want to invite people of colour and those with experience of the challenges and issues we address to get in touch and to think about helping us develop and deliver our future strategy. We are needing trustees who have experience in finance, public health/mental health, construction/business and academic research and practice knowledge in the field of child welfare and inequalities. 

Your commitment to doing what’s right for children and families, for championing children’s rights to Children 1st’s values is as important as your experience. We recognise that the traditional Trustee model can create barriers that may discourage some people from applying, so we are keen to consider short-term and flexible appointments and to have open conversations about how we can address the barriers that might prevent people from applying. 

 Apply here

Or come along to our virtual event to meet the team and find out more about becoming a Trustee at Children 1st on 24th August 2022. Please email Julie.higgins@children1st.org.uk  to note your interest and to be sent a link.