In 2020, Scotland promised every child would grow up loved, safe and respected. Five years in — is it actually happening?
What follows isn't a lecture. It's 5 short stops — one for each Foundation of The Promise. Each one has a quick fact, a quiz question, and a space for your view. At the end, your answers can be sent in to help shape what happens next.
Takes about 12–15 minutes. Skip anything you want to skip. Your honest opinion is the whole point.
The first Foundation says young people must be genuinely heard in decisions about their care. Not just asked. Heard — and responded to.
It's the difference between a meeting about you and a meeting with you. Between being told what's happening and helping decide what happens.
When making decisions about a young person in care, who should have the most influence?
Thinking about the adults around you (school, home, services) — how well do they listen when you have something to say?
Families should get the support they need to stay together safely. When that's not possible, brothers, sisters and important relationships must be protected.
Too often historically, kids have been separated from siblings or moved far from home. The Promise says: do everything possible to keep those bonds intact.
According to The Promise, which is the FIRST option for a child who needs help?
"Family" can mean different things to different people. Who counts as family to you?
When a child does need to be cared for outside their family, that care must feel like a home — not a placement, not a system. A loving home where stability and relationships actually matter.
The Promise is clear that things like moving young people repeatedly, separating siblings, or treating care like paperwork instead of relationships — those things must end.
What does "Scotland's culture of decision-making" need to be, according to The Promise?
Imagine a place that genuinely feels like home for a young person. What's in it?
Social workers, teachers, carers, support workers — the people who do this work need to be well-trained, properly supported, and able to build real relationships. Burnt-out workers can't deliver good care.
This Foundation isn't just about the workforce — it's also about the wider community. Coaches, neighbours, youth workers, friends' parents. All of us.
A young person has had 7 different social workers in 2 years. According to The Promise, what's the problem here?
Think of an adult (in any role) who's been brilliant for you. What did they do that made the difference?
"Scaffolding" = the whole system around you. Schools, NHS, social work, courts, housing, mental health services. It needs to be there before things hit crisis — and it needs to actually work together, not pass you between offices.
Right now, getting help often means waiting lists, telling your story 14 times, or falling through gaps between services. The Promise says: that has to change.
A 15-year-old needs mental health support. Under The Promise's "Scaffolding", what should happen?
Think about getting help from any service (school, GP, social work, mental health, anything). What's worked? What's been a nightmare?
Your answers from this point on can be sent in to help shape the work being done to keep The Promise. Skip whatever you want.
Three questions. Answer however much you want. One sentence is fine.
All of this is optional. We don't need your name. The only reason for any of these is to help group the responses.
You just did something that most adults haven't bothered to do — actually engage with what Scotland's Promise is about.
If you want to dig deeper, the full text of The Promise is at thepromise.scot. If anything in this brought stuff up for you, talking to someone helps:
Childline 0800 1111 · Who Cares? Scotland 0330 107 7540 · Samaritans 116 123