Volunteers from Glasgow children's hearings receive royal recognition

A volunteer who served at children’s hearings in Glasgow and 'did it for the children' was among the King and Queen's guests at the Royal Garden Party.

Six current and former volunteers were invited to the event at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Tuesday, July 2, in appreciation of their services to infants, children, and young people.

Among them was Andy Aitken, who said: "When I volunteered to be part of the work of the Children’s Hearings System, I didn't do it for reward or recognition, I did it for the children of Glasgow, a city I love.

"My attendance at the Royal Garden Party, however, is not just an honour and recognition for me, but for everyone involved in the work of Children’s Hearings Scotland in our great city of Glasgow."

(Image: Volunteers)

A total of 38 volunteers across Scotland's Children's Hearings System attended the garden party.

The hearings are legal meetings set up because there are concerns over the well-being or care of an infant, child, or young person, with three panel members making decisions in the child's best interests.

More than 2,000 volunteer panel members sit on over 20,000 hearings across Scotland yearly.

Children's Hearings Scotland handles volunteer recruitment, training, and support.

Elliot Jackson, chief executive of Children’s Hearings Scotland, said: "I’m incredibly proud of our volunteers who are making important decisions in the best interests of infants, children and young people across Scotland.

"I’m delighted to see them celebrated and honoured in this way, recognising the positive outcomes their service brings for so many people."