Memories of 30 years on the Children's Panel: I focus on the wee child in front of me

As one of the longest serving members of the Children's Panel, Anne, 70, has devoted hours of of her spare time every month to consider the future of children blighted by abuse, neglect and crime.

The experience not only changed the course of their lives, Anne says, it changed her.

"It's helped me become a better person." she explains. "It's made me more tolerant, less judgemental.

"As I've got older, I hope I'm not a grumpy old lady and I think that's because of the panel."

The Children's Hearings System was launched to help address concerns that change was needed in the way society dealt with children and young people in trouble or at risk.

It became apparent that many of the children appearing in court for offences were also suffering abuse and neglect.

A committee was set up in 1960 under Lord Kilbrandon to investigate possible solutions.

On April 15 1971 children’s hearings took over from courts most of the responsibility for dealing with children and young people under 16, and in some cases under 18, who commit offences or who are in need of care and protection.

While legislation involving children has changed dramatically since its inception, the fundamental principle of the hearing system has remained. The child should be at the centre of every decision made by panels.

The system is based on the principle of minimum intervention but in some cases children will never return to the family home.

Anne's interest in the panel was piqued when she saw a newspaper advert, in 1985, aged 40, while she was working as a nursery worker at the former St Augustine's primary in Milton.

She says: "I was very fortunate, because the head teacher, Neil Topping, had been part of the Kilbrandon committee who set up the children's panel, so he was very supportive.

"Now, the cases are more about lack of parental care. When I started it was more about children who were 'outwith parental control'.

"I remember there was a wee boy who had stolen a bread van. He was about 12 and 4ft nothing and I asked him, 'how did you drive it? Were the keys in the ignition?'

"And he said to me, "Can you no hot wire? You had to laugh at some of them.

"There was lots of alcohol misuse.

"Domestic abuse and sexual abuse was never really the top of anyone's agenda. It was a case of 'well it happens'. I don't think, particularly with domestic abuse that the academics realised how awful it was for children to be living with parents who had a volatile relationship."

Anne, who lives in Blairdardie with husband Craig, recalls one case that has stayed with her over the years, which cemented her belief in the merits of the hearings system, which is unique to Scotland.

She said: "We had two girls. The grounds of referral were to do with sexual abuse and it was established that the girls had been sexually abused.

"They were never named but it was always assumed that the father, grandfather and uncle were implicated.

"The girls were fostered outside Glasgow.

"There were criminal proceedings but the adults were found not guilty because it was felt the girls were not credible witnesses.

"So, the family of the girls appealed (our decision). They wanted the girls to come home with them and the father said at the panel, "I'm no guilty."

"I was chairing the panel and I said to him, "I know you have said you aren't guilty but this is a children's hearing. This is not the high court.

"This hearing protects your girls and it was established that your girls were abused so as far as we are concerned, even if you did not abuse them yourself, you did not protect them from abuse.

"The girls went on to be adopted by their foster family and they came back after they were adopted and the supervision order was terminated.

"They brought us all thank you cards and we were all howling.

"There are a lot of cases that in another system, would have been ignored or they would have disappeared into thin air."

Anne says she copes with the most distressing cases by "going home and cooking or having a cup of tea" adding:"I've got a very good, understanding husband, who knows not to talk to me."

The grandmother-of-five was presented with a long service award by Glasgow's Lord Provost, Sadie Docherty, last week at the City Chambers and has no plans to stop volunteering.

She says: "It helps keeps your mind active, it's challenging and I think it gets under your skin.

"It's a very egalitarian system. It doesn't matter what you do in life, you are there because you are committed to that wee child who is going to be in front of you.

"It's about trying to break the cycle and give people some hope. Thirty years on, I'm still learning."

CHILDREN'S Hearings Scotland is looking for more volunteers to become panel members in Glasgow.

Men in particular are being urged to apply as applications from females typically exceed those from males.

Applicants must be 18 or over, no qualifications are required and full training is provided.

Boyd McAdam, National Convener and Chief Executive, Children’s Hearings Scotland said: "The contribution our 2,500 panel members make each year cannot be underestimated. It can at times be a challenging role, but it’s also hugely rewarding and can turn around the life of a child who is neglected, abused or troubled."

To apply visit www.childrenspanelscotland.org. The deadline for applications is September 30.