Today we are hosting our Strategic Leadership Forum (SLF), and a particular highlight has been the focus on children’s rights. We had the privilege of hearing directly from young people from across Argyll and Bute. They brought honesty, challenge and real insight—and, in a lighter but equally important moment, it was our young people who took us through our paces with the icebreaker exercise.
What struck me most was how clearly their contributions reinforced something we know but must continually act on: listening to children and young people is not the responsibility of one service or one team—it is a responsibility that sits with all of us. Whether we are working in education, roads, housing, customer services, finance or corporate roles, the decisions we make shape the experiences of children and families across our communities.
Having regard to children’s views is not an “add-on” or a policy requirement to be referenced—it is fundamental to good public service. It means taking time to understand perspectives that may not always be easy to hear, and using that insight to design services that genuinely work for people. This can help to make Argyll and Bute a place where young people want to stay as they grow up.
I would encourage you to have a look at the online training on Leon, where you can find more about our responsibilities.
I would also recommend taking a few minutes to watch a short video on YouTube created by our young carers, which has been nominated for awards. It is a powerful and moving reflection of their experiences, and a reminder of the resilience, insight and contribution of young people in our communities. You can find it by searching for Argyll and Bute young carers ‘children’s rights’ animation .
As we continue to balance pressures and priorities, today’s conversations are a useful reset. They remind us that at the heart of everything we do are people—and that includes children and young people whose voices must continue to shape our direction.
Have a great weekend.
Pippa
Pippa Milne
Chief Executive
