Our mission is simple – we want to change childhoods and change lives.
Children and young people growing up in Scotland today face a lot of challenges:
- 21% of children live in poverty (Scottish Government, 2026).
- 1 in 5 experience a mental health problem (Public Health Scotland, 2025).
- Nearly 12,000 children are in care (Scottish Government, 2026).
- Reports of online child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland are rising (Police Scotland, 2024).
We want to make Scotland the safest, healthiest, happiest, and most hopeful place for children to grow up in. This toolkit gives you practical ways you can be a champion for children and young people in the Scottish Parliament.
1. Visit Barnardo’s in your local area
We know that speaking with children, young people, and families is the most important way we can make meaningful and impactful change. We support over 11,500 children, young people, parents, and carers through over 150 services and partnerships across Scotland.
If you’d like to find out about, visit or volunteer at a Barnardo’s service or shop in your local area, please contact us to make arrangements.
2. Champion the voices of children and young people in the Scottish Parliament
Whether you want to table a Parliamentary question, hold a debate, or receive a briefing or speech from us ahead of a debate, we can support you to advocate for children and young people.
Often when we launch new reports or send out briefings, we will include suggested actions you can take which will help create meaningful change for all children growing up in the Scotland today. However, if you ever want information outside of this – please just email us and we will be happy to support you.
3. Join us for our Parliamentary events
We may host events in the Scottish Parliament relating to our key policy areas. These events are a great place to find out more about our research and hear directly from young people we support. You will receive an email from us ahead of the event inviting you and offering more information on the topic.
4. Book a meeting with us
If you ever want more information on a specific topic relating to children and young people, why not arrange a meeting with us? We’re always keen to engage with Parliamentarians to share our knowledge and discuss what solutions are possible, and where possible, we will always attempt to have young people join the meeting.
For more information on how you can work with us to be a champion for children, young people, and families in your constituency, please contact our policy team.
5. Share information on your social media and in your newsletters
We use social media to share our latest research, briefings, and advice, and to amplify the voices of children, young people, and families we support.
By sharing our posts on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram, you can help raise awareness of these issues and support available. We can also help develop content for you to share in your newsletters, on your website, and bespoke content for your socials.
Policy and influencing in Scotland
We have first-hand experience of the issues faced by children and young people across Scotland. We use that experience to campaign for change and influence government to achieve better outcomes for more children.
Campaign with us
We know that many of you are worried about the future – which isn’t how it should be. That’s why all of us at Barnardo’s are determined to change the way the system works for you and countless children, young people and families across the UK.
Reports and publications
Our research, which is informed by the views of the children and young people we support as well as insights from our frontline services, is used to make recommendations to the Government and other policymakers about how they can change children’s lives for the better.