Two Hearings-experienced young people are helping children and young people take control of their Hearing.
Achilles and Ciara – who are Our Hearings, Our Voice (OHOV) Board Members – came up with the idea of a scrapbook which will help children and young people through their Children’s Hearings journey.
The scrapbook is a pilot initiative which is being tested in Fife for six months.
The Children’s Reporter will post the scrapbook to children and young people age six years and over who are coming to their first Hearing in Fife. The hope is that the scrapbook will better prepare children and young people and empower them to take control of their Hearing.
At the launch in Glenrothes Hearings Centre, Achilles and Ciara said they were delighted to see their idea come to fruition.
Achilles said: “The idea of a scrapbook was such a Eureka moment for us. It was a fun and interesting process and I feel so proud to have co-created it.
“My hopes for the future is that it’s something young people feel connected to and it really helps them feel comfortable and safe in Hearings.”
Ciara added: “I’m really happy to see an idea that has been carried into fruition so quickly, while holding the sentiment that it was for young people, by young people.
“Achilles and I were really involved – we were at the heart of it.
“I can only hope that it will pave the way for future projects where young people will be listened to the way we were.”
The scrapbook includes areas for children and young people to write down how they are feeling, to customise their Hearing beforehand and to record Hearing decisions afterwards. It also contains information about rights in the Children’s Hearings System and where to get help and more information.
The scrapbook – which is actually an A5 ring binder – allows children and young people to share pages and there’s blank pages if they have extra information they would like to add.
In addition, there’s information about OHOV and there’s a page where children and young people can design their own duck.