Staf

04/06/2026

🏆 Huge congratulations to Team NLN on winning this year’s National Youth Work Award for Participation & Voice! At Staf, we’re already beyond proud to host the National Leadership Network. This award is well deserved recognition of the work the Steering Group and Consultants (past and present) have poured into the NLN since its inception. It is testament to the way in which they have gone about their work, funding superb projects and making real-life difference to young people with their individual grants - all with great attention to detail, love and a good dose of humour along the way. None of this happens on its own, and the way in which Gary and Susanne (and Barry and Lisa before) support the involvement of young people at their own pace is evidenced by the project’s success. The relationships they hold, and care and attention to the people (not just the work) is a huge part of why it works so well, delivering on genuine impact in only a short time. Well done to all of you from all of us! 💜💜

National Leadership Network - YPCE
YouthLink Scotland
Columba Leadership
Resilience Learning Partnership
Who Cares? Scotland
Children and Young People's Centre for Justice

28/05/2026

Our members tell us about the most important issues affecting care experienced young people across Scotland today...and we listen.

Get involved in our new series of online summits, open to everyone, and bringing together voices from policy, practice and lived experience to respond to these issues.

💜No Wrong Door: Improving Transitions into Adult Services – 30 June
A focus on breaking down barriers and creating smoother, more supportive transitions into adulthood.

💜Rights, Relationships and Reform in Aftercare – 25 August
Looking at aftercare practice, rights-based support and the opportunities presented by the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.

💜Care and Justice: Voices, Policy and Practice – 24 November
Exploring how lived experience is shaping national conversations and driving change across care and justice systems.

These summits are designed for anyone working across children’s services, justice, health, housing, education, social work, policy and third sector organisations, who wants to strengthen support for care experienced young people.

💬 Hear directly from lived experience voices
🤝 Connect with colleagues across sectors
💡 Explore emerging policy and practice
📢 Be part of shaping meaningful change

Enjoy special rates for Staf members PLUS a discount for booking all 3 events.

Find out more and book your place at https://www.staf.scot/Event/series-of-3-summits-justice-transitions-to-adult-services-and-aftercare.

20/05/2026

We're proud to celebrate Foster Care Fortnight, the UK’s biggest awareness raising campaign for fostering. This year's theme is ‘This is Fostering’ - celebrating and raising awareness of the different stories across the fostering community.

It shines a light on the everyday experiences of fostering, raising awareness of the positive impact foster carers have. It also acknowledges the pressures foster carers are facing in today’s climate. And it is a platform for a call to action - to stand together as foster carers, kinship carers and the wider fostering community to call on the government for meaningful change.

This is Fostering 💫

Shauna and Christopher’s experience is a shining example of how foster carer advocacy can transform the lives of children and young people. 💕

The couple have been fostering three siblings for nine years, and when they first joined their home, their boy was in a special needs school. As they got to know him, they could see this wasn’t the right learning environment for his needs.

Determined to get him the support he needed, Shauna and Christopher pushed for change. Their advocacy led him to transition fully into mainstream education, where he went on to win learner of the year and is now studying for his A-Levels. 👏

Shauna, Christopher and their family truly embody the ‘This is Fostering’ theme – showing that fostering is so much more than opening up hearts at homes, it requires skill, advocacy and a lot of determination to achieve what’s best for children and young people.

Thank you to Shauna and Christopher for everything you do for children and young people, and massive congratulations to their boy for his amazing achievements. 🙌

Read their story: https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/shauna-fcf/

12/05/2026

We're sending our congratulations to all the MSPs who were newly elected and re-elected to the Scottish Parliament this week.

Scotland has already made a clear, cross-party commitment to keep the promise. This new Parliament now has to make it a reality. We look forward to continuing our engagement with MSPs across all parties in this critical period to 2030.

Our progress needs to continue at pace to ensure we deliver on our promise to care experienced young people. Their rights, voices and futures must remain at the heart of decision-making to achieve meaningful change in the years ahead.

27/04/2026

Job vacancies close tomorrow!

Last chance - applications close on Tuesday 28 April

Could you be our new...
Youth Justice Voices Project Manager?
Youth Justice Voices (North East) Development Worker?
Policy and Communications Officer?

All new permanent full-time roles with our supportive team. Click to apply at https://www.staf.scot/Pages/Category/work-for-us

22/04/2026

Last chance - applications close on Tuesday 28 April

Could you be our new...
Youth Justice Voices Project Manager?
Youth Justice Voices (North East) Development Worker?
Policy and Communications Officer?

All new permanent full-time roles with our supportive team. Click to apply at https://www.staf.scot/Pages/Category/work-for-us

16/04/2026

You told us what matters most right now. And we listened. Join us this summer for our brand new series of online summits.

We’re bringing people together to spark ideas, challenge thinking and strengthen support for care experienced young people. Whether you’re a long-standing member or new to Staf, these sessions offer a space to connect, reflect and be inspired.

26 May – Care and Justice: Voices, Policy and Practice
30 June – No Wrong Door: Improving Transitions into Adult Services
25 August – Rights, Relationships and Reform in Aftercare

Each summit will explore key issues shaping policy and practice with insights from lived experience, frontline work and national conversations. Be part of it!

https://www.staf.scot/Blog/join-us-this-summer-new-series-of-online-summits

14/04/2026

Make your work matter. Shape systems. Amplify young voices.

We’re recruiting a Policy and Communications Officer to join Staf.

This is a chance to influence real change for young people moving on from the care and justice system across Scotland.

✔️ Shape policy and contribute to national conversations
✔️ Create impactful content that amplifies lived experience
✔️ Work with a values-led, supportive team

We’re looking for someone who:
💬 Is a strong communicator
📊 Can translate insight into influence
❤️ Cares deeply about social justice and young people

Hybrid working | Real impact | Supportive culture

📅Apply by Tuesday 28 April
👉https://www.staf.scot/policy-and-communications-officer

Tag someone who should see this 👇

Be part of our work with young people moving on from the care and justice system.

13/04/2026

Just over one week to go!

There are just a few spots left for our free Participation Network Gathering event next Tuesday 21 April in Perth.

This is your opportunity to explore how to create safe and trusting environments in participation. Whether you're a community leader, advocate or just passionate about making a difference, this day is for you.

We have a packed programme of fun, engaging and interactive activities for the day, and this event always sells out. Don’t miss out on your chance to share new ideas and connect with others.

Limited spots remaining - register now➡️

Tuesday 21 April 2026 | 10am - 3.30pm | The Y Centre, Perth

09/04/2026

Do you believe young people should be heard, valued and able to shape the systems that affect them?

We’re looking for a *Youth Justice Voices (North East) Development Worker* to join Staf to support an inspiring, youth-led project working with care and justice experienced young people.

This is more than a job. It’s a chance to:
💜Build meaningful relationships
💜Support young people to influence real change
💜Be part of a creative, values-driven team

💻Contract: Full-time, permanent
📍Hybrid role: home-based, with travel across the North East and Scotland
💸Salary: Up to £30k pa DoE
📅Closing date: Tuesday 28 April 2026

If you’re passionate about participation, social justice and making a difference, we want to hear from you.

👉Apply now: https://www.staf.scot/youth-justice-voices-north-east-development-worker

Be part of our work with young people moving on from the care and justice system.