Forth Valley Bairns' Hoose
Changemakers Group
The Forth Valley Changemakers group brings together young people to share their voices, experiences, and ideas to help shape the future of services that support children and families. The group exists to ensure that the development of Bairns’ Hoose is guided by what matters most to the children and young people who may need it – creating a space that feels safe, supportive, and understanding during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
Development of characters
To support ongoing conversations and reflections, each group created a fictional character to help them view discussions through the character’s eyes. To do this, examples of fictional, yet realistic young people were prepared with no detail about who they were. Each group then chose a character to develop and added details about their life to make them ‘come alive’.
Each of the groups chose the same character story and background, which they then used as the basis for developing their character.
A bit about what the chosen character experienced
- They have been through a really difficult time, as they witnessed their Dad hurting their Mum. They had seen this happen a number of times at home.
- They no longer live with their Dad and currently do not see him.
- They recently had an interview with a social worker and a police officer at a place called The Meadows. They talked about what they had experienced at home, and the interview was recorded on camera.
- They do not know if they will need to go to court to give evidence and are feeling anxious and worried about what will happen next.
- They are receiving support from their school counsellor and have a support worker from Women’s Aid.
Brooke
- Brooke is 10, nearly 11 years old.
- She is a girl and her pronouns are she/her.
- She lives with her Mum and her brother.
- Her brother is called Charlie and is 7 years old.
- Brooke and Charlie enjoy gaming together and have a strong bond.
- She lives in a small council house.
- Brooke is energetic.
- She enjoys spending time with her friends and going swimming.
- Women’s Aid has supported Brooke and her family to move to a new house.
Zack
- Zack is in high school, S2, and is 13, nearly 14 years old.
- He is a boy and his pronouns are he/him.
- He lives with his Mum and his younger sister, who is 4 years old.
- He lives in a very rural area.
- Zack has a good relationship with his Mum and his younger sister.
- He has ADHD and dyslexia.
- He enjoys playing football and playing games.
Caitlin
- Caitlin is 14 years old.
- She is a girl and her pronouns are she/her.
- She is an only child.
- Caitlin and her Mum have moved in with her Granny and Grandad.
- She has a good relationship with her Granny and Grandad.
- She has a kitten called Tigger.
- She attends Braes High School and lives close to the school.
- She speaks to Cheryl, the school counsellor.
- She is in Pentland and her guidance teacher is Mrs Eckles.
- She experiences anxiety and uses BYOB (the wellbeing base).
- She enjoys art and plays football with Falkirk Bairns.
