Rhyme and reason for new appeal

Aileen Campbell, left, the Minister for Children and Young People, joined Children’s Panel member Heather Scott, 23, at the Royal Botanic Garden to launch a call for new recruits to the panel.

Scotland’s national poet, Makar Liz Lochhead, created a new poem that is written through the eyes of a troubled child to help launch this year’s call for new recruits. A bench, inscribed with the poem, was unveiled to launch the month-long drive.

Some 600 new volunteers are needed to ensure that the Children’s Panel system offers the best support to neglected, troubled and abused youngsters across Scotland.

Ms Lochhead said: “I hope that this poem will attract new volunteers.”