New research is to explore what children and young people across Scotland think land, coastline and the seabed should be used for.
Crown Estate Scotland has commissioned the research by Children in Scotland, the national network working to improve children’s lives, to ensure that the voices of children and young people are reflected in how the organisation manages property and natural resources.
The research will centre around proposals in Crown Estate Scotland’s draft plan for 2020-23. It will explore children and young people’s ambitions for land, coastline and seabed management and suggest potential improvements that should be reflected in the final 2020-23 Corporate Plan
Workshops will be held for those aged 8-18 years in different locations around Scotland and there will be an online survey too. The final results are expected in February 2020.
Annie Breaden, Head of Policy for Crown Estate Scotland, said: “Younger generations will be the ones most affected by our proposals, which range from generating clean energy, to how we grow food, to how we tackle climate change. It’s vital that they are given the chance to shape those developments. We’re looking forward to tapping in to their knowledge and perspectives as we develop our plans for the future – I’ve no doubt that they will come up with some really insightful and interesting ideas.”
Elaine Kerridge, Children in Scotland’s Policy Manager (Participation & Engagement), said: “Over the past year children and young people across Scotland have been leading the way in articulating the need for urgent action to protect the environment and halt climate change. In this light, we’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with a group of children and young people to support the development of the Crown Estate Scotland’s corporate plan.
“We will do all we can to support the Crown Estate Scotland to work with the needs and interests of children and young people in mind, now and in the future. We’re also very pleased that a project so reflective of the importance of young people’s right to be heard is being announced on the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and World Children’s Day.”
The full public consultation on Crown Estate Scotland’s draft Consultation Plan is open until Monday 25 November. More details can be found here.
