Membership Spotlight highlights the work of our member organisations and outlines how other individuals and organisations can support them. Together is shining a light on one of our newest members Planning Aid Scotland on International Youth Day.

Helping children and young people shape their places

Planning Aid Scotland is a charity and social enterprise that helps people understand and take part in the planning system.

We believe everyone should have a say in decisions about their places. This includes children and young people, whose views are often missed or gathered in ways that do not suit them.

Good engagement means giving people clear information and the right tools to express what matters to them.

Creative engagement in Stonehaven

One example is our work in Stonehaven, carried out as part of Aberdeenshire Council’s review of the town’s Conservation Area.

We worked with pupils from Mackie Academy and invited them to draw maps of Stonehaven from memory. This simple activity helped them show which places were important in their everyday lives. We were able to have discussions based on the maps, which evolved into a rich conversation about what they valued in their town.

Their drawings included the beach, Market Square, local shops and the football pitch. They also shared their views on Stonehaven’s historic buildings and character.

Drawing maps, alongside really listening to young peoples’ stories helped show what they noticed, used and valued, and made sure their views were included alongside those of adults.

Other examples of our work

We have a long history of including children and young people in planning and placemaking, helping to ensure their voices are heard and their rights under UNCRC articles 12, 15 and 31 are supported.

In Edinburgh, we ran workshops with primary and secondary school pupils to explore how they wanted Leith and the waterfront to develop – Edinburgh Local Development Plan Youth Engagement

Through our Focus on Fife project, young people aged 16 to 25 shared ideas about the future of their communities and contributed to discussions around Fife’s Local Development Plan.

The Young Placemakers programme encouraged young people to help shape places across Scotland.

We also delivered NPF4 Youth Engagement, engaging around 200 young people to gather their ideas on the National Planning Framework 4 Position Statement.

Other projects have used digital tools, local heritage and intergenerational activities to help young people understand planning and take part in placemaking.

Making engagement accessible

The planning system can feel complicated, so clear communication matters.

We aim to explain information in plain, accessible and age-appropriate language. We also support the use of creative activities, easy-read information and resources designed for children and young people. We are currently in the process of updating our Introduction to Planning for Young People resource.

We believe engagement should do more than meet minimum requirements. It should help people who are less often heard take part in a meaningful way.

Our wider work

Our free national Advice Service answers questions about planning applications, developments, homes and local communities.

We also provide training on:

• Community engagement skills
• Facilitation techniques
• Creative engagement tools
• The Scottish planning system
• Bespoke planning and placemaking topics

A key part of our project work is helping communities create Local Place Plans and Community Action Plans. These plans should reflect the whole community, so we support local groups to involve children and young people in the process.

Through creative and age-appropriate activities, young people can share which places matter to them, what they enjoy about their area and what they would like to see improved. Their ideas can help shape the priorities and actions included in the final community-led plan.

We also respond to consultations and proposed changes to the planning system, promoting inclusive participation and better opportunities for children and young people to be heard.

Planning for Play

We are delighted to be sponsoring ‘Planning for Play: Creating and Improving Public Spaces With and For Children’, alongside other partners.

Good public spaces give children places to play, meet friends, be active and feel part of their community. When places work well for children, they usually work better for everyone.

This free, in-person event will take place on 5 September at 9.30 am in Edinburgh. It is for anyone interested in planning, public space and creating better places for children and communities.

Find out more about the event here

Working together

Planning Aid Scotland is delighted to be a member of Together and to be part of a network working towards a more inclusive society where every child and young person has the chance to have their voice heard.

We would welcome opportunities to work with other Together members to share good practice and understand how young people can be better supported to take part in planning and placemaking. We are open to collaborating on projects and exploring joint funding opportunities.

To find out more or explore ways to collaborate, please contact Planning Aid Scotland at office@pas.org.uk or 0131 220 9730

To learn more about our work, visit pas.org.uk

You can also support us by sharing information about Planning Aid Scotland with your networks.

Ends

Find out more information about signing up as a Together member here and join the community.

Consultancy and Training!

Together provides training and consultancy to organisations looking to strengthen how they support children’s human rights. 

Webinars!

Sign up to our three free webinars series, designed to support those working with and for children to embed children’s rights in their practice. 

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.