Glasgow Young Champs explore the city and share their voice

Glasgow Young Champs, the city’s Champions Board for care-experienced young people, has been bringing young people together to explore Glasgow, create lasting memories and make their voices heard through its 2026 theme, ‘Getting to Know Glasgow, Glasgow Getting to Know Us.’

Meeting fortnightly in Govan, the group provides a welcoming space where care-experienced young people can build friendships, have fun and act as change makers by sharing their experiences and helping to influence services and communities across the city.

Throughout the year, Young Champs members have explored some of Glasgow’s best-known cultural and historical attractions. The programme included visits to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Riverside Museum, Pollok Park and the Burrell Collection, as well as a special tour linked to the famous Willow Tea Rooms.

The programme concluded with a memorable trip to Millport, which included a first ferry journey for some members of the group and provided another opportunity to experience something new together.

One of the highlights of the year was a visit from Glasgow Virtual School, which brought along the original Commonwealth Games baton. Inspired by the experience, Young Champs members designed and created their own batons as symbols of pride, hope and ambition.

The young people used their creations to express their aspirations for the future, challenge perceptions of care experience and celebrate what Glasgow means to them. The activity also encouraged wider discussions about life in Jamaica and helped participants make connections with global communities and cultures.

As well as offering opportunities for fun and exploration, the programme has encouraged meaningful participation, enabling care-experienced young people to share their strengths, creativity and ambitions while helping others better understand their experiences. Further Glasgow visits are being planned for the rest of the year.

A spokesperson for Glasgow Young Champs said: “Getting to Know Glasgow, Glasgow Getting to Know Us, gave us the chance to explore the city, try new things and spend time together, while showing Glasgow who Young Champs are and what matters to us.”

Elaine Gillespie, our Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP)’s Team Leader for Participation and Employability said: “The Baton Visit was a brilliant opportunity for the Young Champs to express their hopes, ambitions and pride in Glasgow. Their creativity and ideas show why care-experienced young people must be heard and involved in shaping change.

“The Young Champs have been invited by the Promise Oversight Board to attend a Garden Reception at Holyrood on 29 September. This invitation recognises the group’s commitment to participation, advocacy and influencing change for care-experienced children and young people. It reflects the important role the Young Champs play in sharing their experiences, helping shape services and ensuring that the voices of care-experienced young people are heard at both local and national levels.”

The Champs group is open to children and young people who are currently ‘care experienced’ in the city and are 16 to 26 years. This includes young people living with foster carers, in residential care and those living in kinship care with extended family and friends.  We need your help to ensure that the voices of young people are at the heart of everything we do in Glasgow. To find out more or to join please email the promise@glasgow.gov.uk