Supporting children and young people to achieve their best
Last updated | 22/04/2010
Ways to help children and young people to thrive and achieve their best will be considered today (Thursday 22nd April 2010) at the third annual Better Outcomes conference, organised by the Perth and Kinross Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership.
Organisations that provide services and support for children and young people in Perth and Kinross, including Perth & Kinross Council, NHS Tayside, Tayside Police, the Children's Reporter and voluntary sector bodies, will be attending the conference at Perth Concert Hall. The day is focussed on the effect of difficult life circumstances on children, and the longer-term impact as youngsters move into adolescence and then adulthood.
The keynote presentations at the conference will be given by internationally-recognised education and public health experts. Australian education consultant Dr Loretta Giorcelli will speak on special educational needs, and Director of the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, Professor John Frank of Edinburgh University will consider how Scotland's health can be improved equitably for all.
Attendees will also hear from officers of Perth & Kinross Council, NHS Tayside and SACRO about local initiatives to deliver better outcomes for children and young people through inclusion and engagement, covering issues including family involvement in children's learning, teenage pregnancy and communicating better with children and young people. A series of workshops will give participants the chance to share good practice and look at how they can make a difference in their own area of work.
Chair of the Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership and Chief Executive of Perth & Kinross Council, Bernadette Malone will welcome delegates to the conference today. She said: "Our aim for the Better Outcomes conference is to enable everyone working with children and young people in Perth and Kinross to become even better placed to support all our youngsters to be the best they can be. The involvement of Dr Giorcelli and Professor Frank reflects the Partnership's drive to give providers the chance to get international perspectives and hear contemporary thinking on the issues that affect children's lives. It is vital that we all work together to improve life chances for children and young people whatever their circumstances may be."
