Care Leaver Payment: consultation analysis

10 Awareness and publicity (Q20)

10.1 This chapter presents respondents’ views regarding the communication channels which could be used to raise awareness about the Care Leaver Payment.

10.2 The Scottish Government wants to ensure that people who are eligible for a Care Leaver Payment know about it and know how to apply for it. The consultation paper noted that information about the payment will be promoted via public awareness campaigns, and widely shared through a variety of communication channels, including but not limited to:

• Social media
• Community hubs
• Healthcare practices
• Educational establishments
• Individuals whose professional role involves working with children, young people and their families.

10.3 The consultation invited views on other ways of raising awareness and publicising the Care Leaver Payment to those who are eligible for it.

Question 20: Are there any other communication channels you think we should consider which have not been set out above? Please share your views.

10.4 Question 20 asked about other potential communication channels for raising awareness of the Care Leaver Payment. This was an open question and, altogether, 49 respondents – 28 organisations and 21 individuals – provided comments. The views expressed are discussed below.

10.5 A substantial subgroup of the individual respondents who commented simply said that the suggested channels were sufficient, and that no further communication channels were required. The remaining respondents (both organisations and individuals) made a range of additional suggestions. These covered (i) organisations that could be helpful in informing care leavers of their entitlements, and (ii) methods of (or channels for) communication.

10.6 The organisations that respondents suggested could help in informing care leavers about their eligibility / entitlement for the payment included:

• Local Authorities, COSLA, Champions Boards, Corporate Parenting Boards, and specific professionals within local authorities (chief executives, chief social workers, GIRFEC teams, etc.)
• Care providers and care provider networks (residential providers, foster care providers, kinship carer networks)
• Employment services (job centres, employment support agencies)
• Advice services (advocacy services, Citizens Advice Bureaux, banks, money advice services, public libraries)
• Higher and further education institutions and organisations (colleges, Association of Directors of Education in Scotland)
• Criminal justice organisations (Scottish Children’s Reporters Association centres, secure care establishments, restorative justice services, prisons)
• Membership organisations (e.g. Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare)
• Scottish Youth Parliament
• Third sector organisations in contact with young people (e.g. Young Scot).

10.7 The methods and approaches suggested by respondents included:

• Social media (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram)
• Podcasts
• Billboards
• Leaflets and written material
• TV and radio (adverts, drama).

10.8 Respondents made a range of other comments including that:

• The universal basic income pilot in Wales had generated a very high uptake rate of 97% – it would therefore be important to understand how this initiative had been advertised and communicated.
• It was important not to entrench the ‘digital divide’ and to recognise that not all potential recipients would be accessing social media.
• The approach to communication should be informed by the learning and resources from the Each and Every Child initiative.