What we do

The Forum concentrates its activities on developing ways to hear the voice of children in need and to relay this to central policy authorities. It seeks to influence changes in policy so that the investments create services that better meet the needs and aspirations of young people. The Forum now acts as the consultee on a number of local authority and statutory bodies providing services to special needs children in Highland.

The Forum is currently carrying out work with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health (NHS Highland) service on a project about "What makes a good life?" looking at the promotion, prevention and care approaches to mental health. It is also working with the Violence Against Women Strategy Delivery Group on a project to develop a participation framework to support children and young people affected by gender-based violence.

The Forum has been closely involved in the policy development of the 'Getting it right for every child' approach in Highland and is part of the voluntary sector implementation group.

The Forum seeks to promote and enhance the participation of children and young people, including those who may be harder to involve, in planning, decision making and service self-evaluation. Towards this end the Forum continues to develop the toolbox extending the wide range of tried and tested tools that people can use to do this.

The Forum seeks to stay at the front of policy development and service evaluation to ensure that the voice of children and young people is influential in bringing about better outcomes for them and their families.