Debate Project

The Debate Project was set up in October 2002 by four young people who decided that they wanted to stand up and fight for a better service for young people leaving care.  The Debate Project aims are to empower young people who are currently leaving care or have already left by letting them know that they have a voice and giving them the opportunity to share their experiences with a view to improving the leaving care system for other young people in the future. 

Via consultation with decision makers in Scotland and visiting young people in their locals areas the Debate Project allows young people to raise any issues that they feel relevant and discuss them with MSP’s, representatives of the Scottish Executive and directors of organisations involved with young people leaving care.  Through this dialogue, the young people and decision makers can hopefully influence, change and improve the leaving care system for all young people in the future.

To date, the Debate Project has been involved in many high profile events throughout Scotland.  The young people have been instrumental in providing the views of care leavers to the Scottish Executive for use in the We Can and Must Do Better report.  The Debate Project in conjunction with the Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum were also instrumental in the publishing of the No Time to Lose Manifesto and the How Good Is Your Throughcare and Aftercare Service, which has been ratified by the Care Commission and SWIA. 

In July 2007 The Debate Project was awarded a grant by the Big Lottery Fund to employ a Young People’s Participation Coordinator for 3 years.  Securing a full-time worker will enable the Project to involve more young people and have a louder voice within Scotland.  The Coordinator will be traveling throughout Scotland to give more young people access to the Project and the opportunities it creates. 

If you are a young person and would like to be involved in the Debate Project or if you work with young people and would like information about how they can be more involved, please email amy@scottishthroughcare.org.uk with your request or visit the Debate Project website www.debateproject.org.uk.