Young Person Fringe Event
This special fringe event, generously sponsored by Anderson Education, will run in parallel with the main conference to ensure that children and young people from Armed Forces families are given a dedicated, safe, and empowering space. The event is designed not only to support their personal development but also to provide meaningful opportunities for participation in shaping the services, support, and policies that affect their lives. By creating this platform, their voices will be heard, valued, and woven into the wider conversations of the conference.
We are excited to share that this upcoming event, co‑ordinated by Forces Children Scotland, will shine a spotlight on the experiences, creativity, and insights of young people from across Scotland.
Contributions will come from:
- Forces Children Scotland Rights Group
- Army Welfare Service
- Young people involved in the innovative Ruby Boots project
In addition, Starcatchers will represent and amplify perspectives from the Early Years sector, ensuring that the experiences of younger Service children are also brought to the forefront.
Together, these contributions will highlight the diversity of voices within the Service community and underline the importance of listening to, and learning from, children and young people at every stage of their journey.
Please find details of the event below:
Welcome & Orientation
Workshop One: Story Dots: Mapping Your Journey (please see details below)
Lunch
In conversation with Armed Forces children and young people
Workshop Two: Forces Children Scotland’s workshop on the Forces Children’s Rights Charter
Close & Reflection
Workshop One: Story Dots: Mapping Your Journey
At this year’s SCiP Alliance Conference in Glasgow, Albatross Arts will lead an inspiring 90-minute creative
workshop for 12 young people (P7 to university year 1) as part of the Fringe Event.
'Story Dots: Mapping Your Journey' invites young delegates to explore their personal experiences as Forces children in Scotland through art and storytelling. Using collage materials, photos, and paper ephemera, participants will create individual “story dots” that reflect their journeys, strengths, and shared themes.
The session will offer a safe and supportive breakout space where creativity and reflection come together. As individual stories unfold, common threads will emerge to form a collaborative artwork — a collective snapshot of the experiences and resilience of Forces children across Scotland.
Each participant will have the opportunity to take home their framed artwork, and the group may choose to display their collaborative piece at the end of the conference.
