News & Views

Yesterday marked the launch of the Thriving Lives Toolkit webinar series, with a focus on Principle 5: 'Children are heard'. This first session offered valuable insights into the experiences of Service children and explored strategies schools can adopt to ensure their voices are heard and acted upon effectively.

The event featured two students from the Service Children Ambassador Group, who shared their perspectives and experiences as members of Armed Forces families. Their contributions offered a unique and personal perspective on the challenges they face, the positives of their experiences, and the significance of being given a platform to influence decisions that affect their lives.

We also had the privilege of hearing from Lesley Ure, King’s Group Academies Community and Service Lead, and Claire Rutherford, King’s Group Academies Service Children and Family Coordinator. They provided an overview of the work being done at Brune Park and Bay House Schools to ensure students' voices are not only heard but actively inform school policies and practices. Their insights into practical implementation were particularly valuable for educators, community leaders and organisations looking to adopt similar approaches.

We extend our gratitude to Lesley, Claire, and the Service Children Ambassadors for their contributions, as well as to all attendees who participated in this inaugural event.

The recording of the session is now available for those who could not attend live (below). Stay tuned for details about the next webinar in this series, where we will continue to explore strategies for empowering young voices in various contexts.