Young people with lived experience of hearings enjoyed a personal tour of Glasgow’s redesigned hearings centre.

Two members of CHS’s Experts by Experience group were guests of Jennifer Orren, Participation Lead at the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administrator (SCRA) at the Bell Street hearings centre. The Experts were impressed with the new space and said they felt a sense of safety.

Bigger waiting areas

During the tour, Jennifer explained that children and young people had asked for bigger, separate waiting areas, to let them take a break from their hearing. Each redesigned waiting room includes mood lighting, soft toys, books and blankets, with one room including a tippee.

Bell Street, seen before and after, is the first hearings centre refurbished to SCRA's Hearing Centre Design Standards. Those standards were developed with the help of hearings-experienced young people and follow key principles including safety, trauma-informed practice and sustainability.

“These new waiting rooms are massive compared to what they used to be. Before you had one waiting room for each hearing and everyone crammed in the same tiny room. At times, there were as many as eight people waiting in the room for my hearing. In the past I never really had the chance to speak to anyone privately. I either kept to my myself or everyone in the room heard it.”
I, Expert

Experts influencing change

Launched in March this year, Experts by Experience area group of young people, aged 14 to 25, with lived experience of hearings who regularly come together to influence the work of Children's Hearings Scotland and make a difference. They are supported by the Participation team at CHS to take part in different opportunities to drive forward improvements in practices and standards across the organisation.

The CHS Experts' tour took place the day after the hearings centre was officially opened by the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Natalie Don-Innes MSP.

“If I had the choice between the hearing centre I went to and here, I know which one I would choose – this one. This one is more comforting, especially for a younger kid. I would like the idea of the tents as I know some people feel safe in a small space.”
R, Expert