Kid’s panel volunteers get a formal thankyou

The event was organised by East Renfrewshire area support team and the council to say a big thank you to the 25 serving members of the children’s panel and area support team volunteers.

Panel members give up their personal time to attend extensive training and to serve on children’s hearings, which can help to transform the lives of local children and families at a time of crisis.

A council spokeswoman said the work of the panel makes “an invaluable contribution to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people” in East Ren.

The event recognised the commitment of current volunteers and the service and retirement of some of the children’s panel long-standing members.

The event was attended by Provost Alastair Carmichael.

Catherine Smith, area convener of East Renfrewshire’s area support team who have responsibilities for recruiting panel members, said at the event: “I was honoured to attend the event and to recognise the invaluable contribution our local volunteers make to the hearings system.

“Children’s panel members make vital decisions about vulnerable children and about young people who are in need of care or who have been caught committing an offence.

She continued: “They are responsible, quite simply, for changing the lives of the children and young people that they see and for that I would like to thank them sincerely.”

East Renfrewshire provost Alastair Carmichael added: “We cannot under-estimate the dedication of our local panel members and the time they freely give to the children’s hearing system.

“It is very important that this contribution is recognised formally from time to time and I wish to extend my thanks, on behalf of all the vulnerable young people they support.”

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the panel or suport team, go tochildrenspanelscotland.org or call 0141 577 8388 or