THE number of children and young people referred to the Children's Reporter has increased in Clackmannanshire for the first time in 13 years.

Figures from the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) shows that there were 239 children – 129 male and 110 female – referred during 2019-20.

The total is a rise of 110 from the previous year, with data recorded between April 2019 and March 2020.

It is the first time since 2006-07 that there has been an increase in children referred.

The statistics also show a slight rise in the number of children referred on offending grounds, with the total increasing from 36 to 41.

The highest number of children referred per age group was 78 in the age 12-15 category; there were also 51 children referred in the age 0-3 category, 54 (age 4-7), 55 (age 8-11) and six (16+) in the other groups.

There were 517 referrals in total, an increase of 266 from 2018-19.

A total of 443 referrals came from the police, while 53 came through social work reports.

Education supplied eight, while health and court reported six and five, respectively, and there were less than five in other categories.

The data has been released as Children's Hearings Scotland launches their biggest ever national campaign to recruit new volunteer Children's Panel Members to work with children in their communities – including Clacks.

There were 673 Children's Hearings conducted in Clackmannanshire for 2019-20, a rise of 92 on the previous year.

Panel Members are volunteers from the area who take part in children's hearings. Their role is to listen and make legal decisions with and for infants, children and young people.

Elliot Jackson, Children's Hearings Scotland national convener and chief executive, said: "The Children's Panel is a really essential service in Scotland, and couldn't operate without volunteer Panel Members.

"Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we were lucky to have truly committed volunteers who made sure we could continue to support children and families in need of care and protection.

"They embraced different ways of volunteering, including online hearings, and I am really proud of everything they were able to achieve in what has been a really tough year for Scotland."

The campaign aims to attract a diverse group of volunteers, to ensure Panel Members reflect the communities they live in, and who have the right qualities.

Mr Jackson added: "We asked young people with lived experience of the hearings system what specific traits they wanted to see in their Panel Members.

"They were crystal clear and told us that it doesn't matter what your background, your profession, or your age is – what matters are the qualities that you can bring to the room, such as compassion and empathy, being a good listener, someone you can trust.

"If you want to make a difference in your local community, I ask you to consider applying to volunteer as a Panel Member. You would be joining a vibrant community at an important time."

Applications for becoming a Children's Panel Member are now available and entries close at midnight on February 15.

For more information about the role, visit https://chscotland.gov.uk/