Virtual Head Team (VHT) Participatory Budgeting Survey
Voting now open!
See timeline below for details
Overview
From the very beginning, in 2018, Stirling Council had a clear vision for achieving the ambitions set out in the national guidance for funding initiatives and interventions aimed at improving educational outcomes for care experienced children and young people, aged between 0-26 years. Our vision is to be ambitious for Stirling’s care experienced children and young people, to help them to achieve their best and have a good education; to listen, love and support them to learn, participate and flourish.
Therefore, there is a focus on the values of love and support while collaborating with a wide range of people to drive forward improvements and support the diverse strengths and needs of all of our children. The use of data is key in: influencing the work undertaken, knowing who and where Stirling’s care experience are, understanding where we need to direct interventions and support to improve outcomes.
The Scottish Government has committed to awarding the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) for care experienced children and young people funding until June 2025.
We would like to invite children, young people, and any adults supporting them, including key corporate parent organisations and the wider Stirling community, how we should spend some of the money we receive from the Scottish Government.
To understand more about the VHT Big Conversation click here for our explanatory film.
To take part in the consultation, please see the timeline below for the project status.
Phases
The Vote
We have been overwhelmed by the number of great responses we received during the first stage of our consultation in Stirling’s BIG conversation on services for care experienced children and young people. Thank you!
Read this guide BEFORE you vote to make sure you know the process
We have narrowed the suggestions down to 4 projects that could be taken forward by the Care Experienced Virtual Head Team. Now it’s time to VOTE on which one you think would be most useful to our children and young people.
The choices
The Community Link Project
Collaborating with clubs, community organisations and schools to increase participation of children and young people with experience of care in more activities.
You said…
We would like a wider range of opportunities after school and in our local communities that are inclusive for our children and young people with experience of care. Sometimes it costs too much to go to the activities and trying a club for the first time can be scary.
We could…
Work with local clubs and organisations to help them be more inclusive of all children and young people. We can work together to find out what would make it easier for more children and young people with experience of care to attend clubs and activities. We can provide funding to remove any barriers preventing our children and young people from joining in.
If you think our children and young people would benefit from more opportunities to join in clubs and activities in their communities, vote for FUNDING A COMMUNITY LINK PROJECT
Being more involved in making decisions about our lives
Person Centred training for children's services workers and partners to improve how we involve children and young people in decision making.
You said…
Our children and young people want to be more involved in decision making about their lives and about their education. Meetings are too formal and focused on what the adults think. Children and young people should be part of discussions, be listened to and be part of making decisions more.
We could…
Pay for ‘person centred’ training for people like teachers, social workers, family support workers and for our children too, to make it easier for our children and young people with experience of care to be listened to, make decisions and have their views acted upon.
If you think our children and young people would benefit from being listened to and being more involved in decision making, vote for PERSON CENTRED TRAINING.
Rolling programme of short courses with schools and local communities
You said…
Primary and secondary aged learners want to have more learning opportunities, in safe, welcoming environments be that in school or elsewhere in our communities, and learn about things that are interesting to them. They want to learn a wider range of skills that are about ‘real life’ that are fun now and also prepare them for the future.
We could…
Extend the range of life skills short courses for children and young people that we deliver in partnership with schools and community organisations. These would be available for small groups and individual learners who would enjoy learning new skills, outside the classroom that help them to be successful learners and confident individuals.
If you think our children and young people would benefit from opportunities to learn new skills in their communities, vote for ROLLING PROGRAMME OF SHORT COURSES
Media and Community Communications project
You said…
We don’t hear about the opportunities that are available to us. We need to hear about them directly and not just through our teachers, carers or social workers.
We could…
Fund a project to create social media and communications to share what’s on offer for our children and young people. We would reach out to young people to find out how they communicate best so they are more likely to hear about what’s on. We would build links with community partners to find out what’s out there and share the information widely so more of our young people could participate and flourish.
If you think our children and young people would benefit from information being shared better, vote for MEDIA and COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT
How To Vote
The Vote opens on Tuesday 31st May and closes 12noon on Tuesday 14th June 2022
Schools in the area will vote during the school day, in school or as part of online classroom activity.
If you have left school or not attending just now, you can still vote using the young scot e-voting platform.
Vote on Young Scot
You will need your Young Scot Card or a temporary number (you can get this by emailing fowlerl60s@stirling.gov.uk).
Each Young Scot Card or temporary number can only be used once – make sure you have what you need before you start.
VOTE ONLINE USING THE YOUNG SCOT VOTING PLATFORM
Vote on Engage Stirling
You can also cast your vote here. To do so you will need an Engage Stirling account. To choose a preferred project, please select an option from the poll below and follow the instructions to cast your vote!
If you have any questions, ask a trusted adult to help you.