The Scottish Police Authority (the Authority) and Who Cares? Scotland (WC?S) have been shortlisted for the Voluntary Sector Partnership Award at this year’s Scottish Public Services Awards.
According to statistics presented to the Scottish Parliament by WC?S, in Scotland 33% of young offenders and nearly 50% of prison detainees have experienced care; almost 50% of 15-17 year-olds in residential care have diagnosed mental health disorders and 50% of Care Experienced young people experience homelessness.
The nomination recognises the Authority’s collaborative work with WC?S to publicly advocate for action to reduce inequalities through system wide activities to enhance the life prospects of those who have experienced care.
Influencing national policy and future legislation, the Authority and WC?S have advocated for Scottish Government to include Care Experienced people in the equality provision in the Human Rights Bill, which is currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament. Further advocacy is ongoing to reduce the unnecessary criminalisation of those who have experienced care, to reduce exposure to police custody and to promote supportive alternatives. In addition, the Authority and WC?S publicly advocate for legislative change to introduce a multi-agency care setting for children accused of crime.
The Authority is demonstrating its commitment to promoting life opportunities for Care Experienced people and is currently developing a sector leading approach to ensure equal opportunities for those from the Care Experienced community to modern apprentice roles. The Authority is also a founding member of the WC?S Corporate Parenting Network, uniting Corporate Parents across Scotland to share learning and develop actions that positively impact those who are Care Experienced.
WC?S have provided lived experience insight and a deep understanding of issues facing the Care Experienced community to ensure that the Authority and Police Scotland Corporate Parenting activities are well informed, explainable and focused on practical positive impacts.
The Authority and WC?S partnership drives the public and political narrative to shape change and to close the outcome gap for the Care Experienced people. Going forward we will continue to build on our partnership with WC?S, continuing to advocate for those who have experienced care.
A full list of the organisations that have been shortlisted for an award can be found here. The winners will be announced on 6 December 2023 and we wish all finalists the very best of luck.
