Inverclyde Council has formally endorsed and adopted the Forces Children’s Rights Charter after the move was backed by elected members.
Councillor Graeme Brooks asked the local authority to declare its support for the document which recognises specific challenges faced by children and young people from military backgrounds at its meeting on Thursday.
His motion, which was seconded by Councillor David Wilson, called for “continued awareness” of their needs when implementing policy across council services and with partner organisations.
It stated: “Council welcomes the contribution made by armed forces families within Inverclyde.
“Council recognises that children of the armed forces can experience unique challenges arising from high mobility, parental deployment, separation, and transitions between schools and communities.
“Council notes the work undertaken across Scotland by charities such as Forces Children Scotland to support babies, children and young people from armed forces families.
“Council further notes the principles of the Forces Children’s Rights Charter and its importance in recognising the rights of children and young people from regular, reservist and veteran families.”
The motion by Councillor Brooks, who is the council’s armed forces champion, received unanimous backing at the summit.
Speaking after the meeting, he said: “I welcome the contribution made by armed forces families within Inverclyde and it’s important to highlight that children from armed forces families can experience unique challenges arising from high mobility, parental deployment, separation, and transitions between schools and communities.
“The charter emphasises the importance in recognising the rights of children and young people from regular, reservist and veteran families.
“I’d like to thank my council colleagues for unanimously endorsing the charter and once again making sure Inverclyde is leading the way in our support for our armed forces and their families.”
The local authority has also agreed to communicate support for the charter to schools and community planning partners and facilitate the opportunity for Forces Children Scotland to engage with children’s services on the issue.
Steven Sweeney, the charity’s chief executive, said: “I’m delighted that Inverclyde Council has become the first local authority in Scotland to endorse the Forces Children’s Rights Charter.
“To use the words of one of our young people from armed forces families, the charter is a representation of their ‘ideas, stories and vision for the future’.”
Inverclyde is home to 2,289 veterans and there are 156 pupils from armed forces families in its education system.
