The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) has been announced as a partner host of the National Leadership Network, a legacy project for the Life Changes Trust.
The National Leadership Network will support care experienced young people to become leaders in their schools, communities and beyond. It will be led and directed by young people and individuals with care experience, whose first-hand knowledge and insight into what works, and what needs to be improved, will help realise the hopes and aspirations of those involved in the Network.
The Network aims to encourage, sign post and facilitate personal and professional development opportunities and experiences. It will also strengthen personal and organisational relationships and alliances in the national care experience community.
Ten young people in paid positions decided who will host the Network for the next five years. CYCJ will focus on rights-respecting justice, engagement with seldom heard voices and equality. Fellow hosts and their areas of focus are:
- Scottish Through Care and Aftercare Forum (Staf): lead hosts of the National Leadership Network who will focus on co-production, voice and influencing policy.
- Columba 1400: who will support personal and professional development for individuals with care experience, their partners and allies.
- Resilience Learning Partnership (RLP): who will lead on trauma informed practice.
- Who Cares? Scotland: who will lead on participation, engagement and activism, connecting with individuals with care experience, their partners and allies nationally.
Fiona Dyer, Director of CYCJ, said:
“As a team that values lived experience and its huge potential to shape change and transform outcomes for others, we are proud to be part of the National Leadership Network. Its aim of empowering young people by placing them front and centre in all decision making is hugely encouraging, and mirrors the vows made by The Promise to Scotland’s care experienced community. We are very much looking forward to working together to create the leaders of the future.”
What’s next for NLN?
Six roadshows throughout Scotland are being planned, to hear ideas about how the Network can be shaped, and what leadership looks like and feels like for different people and organisations. These will also look at existing leadership opportunities and experiences that are available.
A steering group (or similar) will also be created. This will oversee the work of the Network and direct the work that we will carry out.
How do I find out more?
More information will be announced soon, so keep an eye on your inbox. To find out how you can get involved, read this blog by Lisa O’Leary (Senior Development Officer at the NLN). You can also email lisa@thenln.org or gary@thenln.org and follow @ypceleadership on Twitter.