Councillors commend work to support young people, including award winning project
Steps taken to make sure all children, young people, adults and families in Midlothian are supported to be the best they can be, were commended by councillors at the full Council meeting today (Tuesday).
Helping young people succeed
Approving actions set out in the Children’s Services Improvement Plan, councillors agreed that despite challenges, much has been achieved.
Listening to young people
Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for education and children’s services, Councillor Ellen Scott said: “It’s heartening to hear of the comprehensive local measures taken to listen to, and act on, the opinions and needs of our young people and families.
Key achievements
The report, outlines key achievements including:
- Working in partnership with education colleagues, the Family Wellbeing Service is now supporting more than 100 families and 177 children to improve attendance at school and support young people’s wellbeing.
- A 10% increase in families who, after being assessed, chose to take funding to organise their own support, which they could tailor to their own needs.
- A total of 30 care-experienced young people supported to move into their own permanent home thanks to The Midlothian House Project. The project, which also offers skills training such as maintaining a home and being a responsible citizen, continues to be held as an example of excellent practice. Fraser McKinley, Chief Executive of the Promise Scotland, visited recently to hear more about its successes.
- In 2023, the Income Maximisation Officers within Children’s Services supported many families through 429 individual advice sessions to make sure they were getting their full entitlement to benefits and grants. This amounted to a total of £130,123 being claimed.
Award winning project
Cllr Scott commended The House Project for winning two national awards. The project took the ‘Outstanding Corporate Parent’ and ‘Stable Foundations’ top prizes at the inaugural Who Cares? Scotland Corporate Parenting Awards in Glasgow on Thursday 22 August.
Reward enough
Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Ellen Scott said: “It’s reward enough that 30 care-experienced young people are now in settled, in permanent accommodation with life skills to sustain a tenancy and a bright future ahead thanks to the Midlothian House Project.
Cherries on top
“However, winning both awards, which recognise the project’s collaborative efforts to change young people’s lives for the better, are definitely the cherries on top!”
2024/25 priorities
Councillors heard that among the current priorities, Children’s Services is focusing on recruiting more foster carers, meeting the growing demand to place unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and improving support for families impacted by a disability.
Well worth reading
Cllr Scott added: “I’d urge young people and families to read this report. The breadth of measures changing lives for the better is fantastic.”