Sir Iain Livingstone named Action for Children Ambassador

Prior to stepping down in August this year, Sir Iain had led the force since 2017. He now brings a wealth of experience and insight from his time to Action for Children.

Whilst the nation’s most senior officer, he oversaw policing during major events including the Covid pandemic, policing of COP26, and the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

As an ambassador for the charity, he will leverage his expertise and influence to raise awareness about the critical issues affecting children and young people in Scotland, especially where they are protected or supported by the police.

Speaking of this new role, incoming ambassador Sir Iain Livingstone said:

“It’s great to be working with Action for Children on its essential work in Scotland. I’m looking forward to lending my support to the charities’ leading practice development and collaboration with national agencies to ensure we continue to deliver safe childhoods for children and young people."

“The police’s support and protection for children and young people is a wide ranging area of practice, especially in Scotland. It requires multi-agency involvement to ensure the most suitable outcome is reached, and through this role I’m keen to build on Action for Children’s leading effort in this area.”

The charity is the leading expert on delivering a national intervention service to divert children and young people away from child criminal exploitation in Scotland, and sits on the government’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce.

First established in Scotland in 1955, it also delivers a range of specialist support including care for children and young people with disabilities, residential facilities, fostering, family support and mental health services all aimed to ensure more children have a safe and happy childhood.

Its team of around 850 staff across Scotland deliver 90 services throughout 30 local authorities, including Eilean Siar (the Western Isles).

Fiona Steel, National Director for Scotland at Action for Children, welcomed the appointment by saying: “Sir Iain has worked at the top of public life in Scotland for many years and is a great supporter to have on board with the charity. His understanding on shifting social issues and the role they play in policing is something I am very keen to harness in our work.”

“I look forward to welcoming him into our team in Scotland, and making an important difference.”

Paul Carberry, Chief Executive at Action for Children, added: “I’m so pleased to have Sir Iain joining as our newest ambassador at Action for Children. It offers huge backing on our effort for charities, the police, and national agencies to be more aligned in delivering safe and happy childhoods for children."

“During his leadership, Sir Iain showed an unwavering commitment to protecting and supporting communities, and so this is a brilliant opportunity to draw on his insight about policing to ensure we advocate for families at a Scottish and UK-wide level.”

Livingstone will join other Action for Children ambassadors in Scotland, TalkSPORT broadcaster David Tanner, Rt Hon Lord Jack McConnell of Glenscorrodale and senior communications consultant and boardroom leader, Flora Martin.

He will also work closely with the charity’s National Director for Scotland, Fiona Steel, and former Scottish Government Permanent Secretary, Leslie Evans, who serves as a trustee and chairs its Scottish advisory committee.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:

For media enquiries or interviews please contact, Joel Meekison, News and Media Officer at Action for Children in Scotland: [email protected] / 07855 192844

Out of hours 07802 806 679 / [email protected]

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Action for Children: Action for Children Scotland works directly with more than 25,000 children, young people, parents and carers each year. With 90 services in Scotland, we are in communities where you live and work. We help transform the lives of thousands of children and young people each year and we’ve been doing so for 65 years. For more information, visit www.actionforchildren.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @actn4childrScot

The Jay Review into Child Criminal Exploitation – November 2023:

• As part of Action for Children’s work on the criminal justice system it launched the Jay Review of child criminal exploitation chaired by Professor Alexis Jay OBE in November.
• It will use expert witnesses to understand the scale and nature of child criminal exploitation, the legal and policy responses and the support available to victims with findings expected next spring.

Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention Service:

• The Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention Service is a ground-breaking programme aimed diverting young people away from a life of serious organised crime is to be rolled out to a number of cities across the UK.
• Following a pilot in 2013 in Glasgow, Action for Children’s Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention service was rolled out to Edinburgh, Newcastle and Cardiff in 2019 funded by £4.6 million from The National Lottery Community Fund. A project in Dundee was later launched in June 2022.
• The pioneering project involves peer mentors with direct lived experience of issues, alongside a tailored multi-agency response, it worked to prevent children aged 11-17 being criminally exploited.
• It is the first of its kind in the UK to use ‘peer mentors’, many themselves former young offenders, and has been shown to be effective in offering accessible role models for teenagers who have previously resisted other types of mainstream support. One teenager who had committed almost 600 offences has not reoffended since taking part in the Glasgow project.
• In 2022, it saw an 83% reduction in offending behaviour among the children supported. It’s making a big difference, and has now been rolled out across Edinburgh, Newcastle, Dundee and Cardiff.