Kirsty the Holyrood Baby: Poverty, Early Intervention, and Getting It Right For Every Child

Kirsty, the Holyrood Baby,  is a fictional child, born into one of Scotland’s most deprived communities on the day the current crop of MSPs took their seats in 2016.  She is a conduit through which Holyrood magazine can examine the parliament's progress in tackling poverty, early intervention, and children's rights – as well as the implementation gap between policy ambition and the reality for children growing up in poverty in Scotland. 

Since Kirsty's third birthday, it was decided that parts of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 will not now come into force, although the Scottish Government remains committed to GIRFEC. 

Join us on 6th October as we examine what recent and upcoming policy changes and the wider implications of the COVID-19 pandemic mean for the support and services you provide to children in Scotland.

• Practical guidance to support and sustain the GIRFEC approach under existing legislation
• Examining the effects on policy and the lives of the least well-off the Covid-19 outbreak 
• Lifting 30,000 children out of poverty through the Scottish Child Payment? 
• Giving all children the best start in life by expanding funded early-years provision 
• Addressing poor take-up and challenges around signposting services
• Embedding a rights-based approach in service delivery 
• How to close the implementation gap between policy and practice 
• A co-designed approach to putting children's voices at the centre of service delivery 
• Taking a whole system approach to transformational change in children's services

• Shona Robinson MSP, Former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport & Chair, Social Justice and Fairness Commission
• Claire Telfer, Head of Scotland, Save the Children
• Jamie Greene MSP, Scottish Conservatives Education Spokesman & Member, Education & Skills Committee
• Sue Palmer, Independent Writer and Education Consultant, and Chair, Upstart Scotland
• Margo Mackay, Associate, Talking Mats
• Sara Spencer, Cost of the School Day Project Manager, Child Poverty Action Group
• Bill Alexander, Associate, Children in Scotland
• Speaker tbc, Centre of Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection (CELCIS)

Session 1: Policy Landscape Since Kirsty's 3rd Birthday

• Practical guidance to support and sustain the GIRFEC approach under existing legislation
• Lifting 30,000 children out of poverty – Scottish Child Payment 
• Giving all children the best start in life by expanding funded early-years provision 

Keynote Address:  Shona Robinson MSP, Former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport & Chair, Social Justice and Fairness Commission

Session 2: The Reality for Children Living in Poverty

Sara Spencer, Cost of the School Day Project Manager, Child Poverty Action Group

• Poor take-up and challenges around signposting services
• Embedding a rights-based approach in service delivery 
• Tackling the poverty-related attainment gap 

Can Scotland be Brave? Taking a rights-based approach in health and education

Margo Mackay, Associate, Talking Mats

Session 3: Getting It Right For Kirsty – Next Steps 

• Taking a whole system approach to transformational change in children's services
• Co-designed approach that puts children's voices at the centre 
• Changing the 'poor outlook' for Kirsty 

Interactive Discussions 

Panel Discussion

Jamie Greene MSP, Scottish Conservatives Education Spokesman & Member, Education & Skills Committee

Bill Alexander, Associate, Children in Scotland
Sue Palmer, Independent Writer and Education Consultant, and Chair, Upstart Scotland

Book now or email or call Adam on 0131 285 1692

If you have an inspiring case study or a project that you think is relevant, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We are always on the lookout for new speakers.