This event aimed to celebrate positive and progressive Corporate Parenting practice from the last decade while recognising the key role that Corporate Parents play in the lives of Care Experienced people, particularly as Scotland strives to Keep the Promise.
Everyone needs a strong and supportive scaffold of lifelong support around them. Corporate Parents form an important piece of the scaffold that surrounds Care Experienced people throughout their lives. Although the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act incorporated Corporate Parenting into legislation in 2014, the idea of Corporate Parenting itself is not new. It was first discussed at Westminster Parliament in the mid-1990s and so much has been achieved since then.
We sometimes take for granted how unique this concept is and the holistic support that Corporate Parenting, when done well, provides Care Experienced people. Scotland truly is a pioneer in this respect. Only in Scotland are Corporate Parenting duties grounded in legislation and only in Scotland are these duties extended to such a diverse group of organisations and individuals. It’s time for Scotland to help other nations understand the impact and importance of Corporate Parenting in its widest sense.
The intention behind the Corporate Parenting Awards was to recognise the dedication and commitment of Scotland’s Corporate Parents. We created a unique and exciting space for Corporate Parents to build connections and facilitate collaboration and to inspire Corporate Parents to learn from each other and replicate positive practice.
Over the last year we have been planning this event in recognition of the hard work and progress made by Scotland’s Corporate Parents. Nominations were submitted throughout April and May, and we received an impressive array of examples of best practice. We aimed to recognise and celebrate transformative and innovative practice from the past ten years and most importantly highlight how this has benefitted Care Experienced people.
Our judging panel was comprised of a diverse group of Care Experienced people and representatives from Who Cares? Scotland who dedicated their free time to helping shortlist the nominations. The awards were hosted by Eireann McAuley, Who Cares? Scotland Board Trustee.
The award categories and winners were as follows:
| Care Conscious Employer – Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration |
| Changing the Narrative – St Peter’s Primary in Renfrewshire |
| Creating Financial Equality – North Ayrshire Council |
| Creating Transformation – Police Scotland |
| Equality, Respect & Love – Sam Curran & Amanda Reynolds |
| Excellence in Innovation – East Dunbartonshire Health & Social Care Partnership |
| Lifelong Rights – Student Awards Agency Scotland |
| Outstanding Corporate Parent – Midlothian Council |
| Outstanding Educational Practice – Further Education – West Lothian College |
| Outstanding Educational Practice – Higher Education – University of Strathclyde |
| Outstanding Educational Practice – Schools – Duncanrig High School in South Lanarkshire |
Positive Partnerships – Kirklandneuk Primary School (Renfrewshire), Active Schools Renfrewshire & One Ren |
| Stable Foundations – Midlothian Council |
For more information about Corporate Parenting and the support that our Education and Engagement team can offer your organisation please contact them at corporateparenting@whocaresscotland.org.
We would like to thank all those who nominated Corporate Parents for these awards, Corporate Parents across Scotland and the Care Experienced community for their dedicated time and effort in the creation of this event. If you’d like to read about the incredible work these individuals and organisations have done, and all those nominated for an award please download our Awards Brochure below.
Here’s to the next decade of promising Corporate Parenting practice!
