Membership Spotlight highlights the work of our member organisations and outline how other individuals and NGOs can support them. We are shining the light on Parenting Across Scotland who aim is to raise the profile of key issues facing parent-carers and their families in Scotland and create improvements in policy and practice. 

Parenting across Scotland (PAS) is a membership organisation, working with our members, partners, and stakeholders to bring the parenting voice to national and local policymakers and service providers. Our aim is to raise the profile of key issues facing parent-carers and their families in Scotland and create improvements in policy and practice. 

Many are surprised to find out PAS is a two-person organisation, made up of Amy (CEO) and Arran (Policy and Engagement Officer). Despite our small team, we cover a wide range of key policy areas including child poverty, family support, children’s rights and leisure and play.

We are currently leading on the third phase of the Open Kindergarten project, alongside our project partners, Midlothian Sure Start, Children in Scotland, and The Open University. Funded through the Scottish Government’s Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, this phase is seeking to test out the Nordic model of parenting support across different local authorities in Scotland.

As a member organisation, we also respond to topic areas that our members flag. Earlier in the year, some of our members felt the topic of parenting children after they reach 18 years of age was an important, but under-explored issue. In response, PAS held a roundtable which gathered parents, carers, members and other relevant stakeholders to explore the issue. We have since created a briefing on this which we will share with decision makers in the new year.

Parenting Across Scotland & children’s rights

At PAS, we were delighted to welcome the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots Law. We know the power that the UNCRC holds and we hope it can and will be used to push for better lives for all children, young people, and families. As parents and carers often advocate for the rights of their children, one of our key aims as a parenting organisation is to ensure parents and carers are equipped with a good understanding of what the UNCRC means, and how they can be supported to ensure children’s rights are upheld.

PAS is proud to be a part of numerous advisory groups where we have ability to ensure that implementation process responds to the views and needs of parents and carers. These groups include the Scottish Government’s UNCRC Strategic Implementation Board, and the Scottish Government’s UNCRC Awareness Raising Network. We are also delighted to be a member of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) and have joined Together’s Rights Detectives Steering Group. This work explores how the rights of babies can be realised and how we can increase emphasis on the voices of babies in decision making processes. This is fascinating, exciting and important work, and an area that parents and carers need to be involved in.

We know the importance of UNCRC and ensuring families are supported in accessing their rights. Last year we commissioned The Lines Between to conduct an evidence review of all the studies published in Scotland in 2023 relating to parenting. The final review collected evidence from 28 reports which included research from over 4000 parents and carers, from at least 26 local authorities across Scotland. The evidence review illustrated some of the key issues facing families – including poverty, mental and physical health, and education and childcare – and the need for us to advocate on behalf of parents, carers and families. You can read the evidence review here.

You can find out more about our work on our website, and signing up for our newsletter.

Get Involved with Together

Sign-Up and Become a Member (Individual, Supporter or Organisations)

Would you like to find out further information about joining Together’s Membership?  Find out further information by opening this hyperlink.

Are you a Together organisational member and would like to collaborate for a Membership Spotlight? Email: caitlin@togetherscotland.org.uk

State of Children’s Rights Report 2024

• Read our recently published report which 220 babies, children and young people share their stories, click here.

Donate To Us Today!

Donate to Together and help us to promote children’s rights in Scotland and improve the lives of all babies, children and young people.