We’re delighted to introduce our Isles of Scilly Children and Young People’s Plan 2026-2029, following approval at Full Council on 24 September 2026. You can read this plan, in full, at the following link:
READ THE ISLES OF SCILLY CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S PLAN 2026-2029
This is the first comprehensive plan of its kind since the previous Children and Young People’s Plan expired in 2015. It was developed following consultation with a range of stakeholders and rounds of engagement with the community, and has been approved by the Children’s Services Improvement Board.
The Council and all of our partners in child development and protection strongly encourage everyone who cares about the lives and experiences of children, young people and their families across the islands to read the document and take an interest in its delivery.
Sue Butcher, Director of People, said: “I’m really proud to present this Children and Young People’s Plan, which has been developed, and will be delivered, in partnership with everyone who is working to improve the lives of our islands’ children, young people and families.
I encourage everyone to read the plan and take an interest in progress made towards its intended outcomes. There are 4 overarching priorities which span not only stages of development from childhood to adulthood, but also seek to benefit the wider community. These priorities are: Best Start in Life, Aspiration, Independence and Adulthood, Belonging and Inclusion and Strengthening Families.
Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the plan and consider how we can all support its aim to make island life fairer, safer and more connected for every child.”
How the plan was developed
Following the Council’s commitment to producing and publishing this plan in 2025, the following steps have been taken in order to develop it:
- We’ve undertaken a comprehensive Joint Needs Assessment.
- Evidence has been collated from Public Health’s Child Poverty Report, Safer Scilly’s Strategic Assessment, service performance data and direct feedback from children and families.
- Feedback has been gathered from a programme of partnership workshops, stakeholder engagement and co-design activity with children, young people and families. This included whole-school engagement, early years sessions, maternity voice feedback, Healthwatch engagement and young people's and family’s participation events.
- We reviewed all our data and listened to the things the community told us needed improving to better understand the lived experience of Scilly’s children and families.
You can read more about how the plan was developed and what we learnt over the year in the plan itself.
How the plan will be monitored and reviewed
A Children and Young People’s Plan is a strategic area-wide plan for local services and each agency and organisation with a remit affecting children, young people and families has its own role and area of focus within it.
The Council leads on children’s services which includes, safeguarding, education, and family help. In addition, the Local Authority has responsibility for public health, adult social care, community safety, community services and leisure, economy, skills and housing and development.
Devon and Cornwall Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner focus on law enforcement, crime prevention, and community safety.
Health services are commissioned by the NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) within the wider Integrated Care System (ICS), which brings together health, care, and community organisations. Local health providers deliver physical and mental health care across the islands.
These partners collaborate through key governance groups, including the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWBB), Safer Scilly Partnership, and Our Children’s Safeguarding Partnership (OSCP), ensuring a coordinated approach to protecting children and supporting families.
The Children and Young People’s Plan provides the strategic framework for the more detailed action plans which will need to be owned by each contributing agency. Work has already begun in some crucial areas, and progress will continue to be monitored by the Children’s Services Improvement Board until a new board is established to reflect the needs of the wider partnership.
Lead Member for Children’s response to the plan
Speaking at Full Council on 24 September, Cllr Joel Williams, Lead Member for Children, welcomed the Children and Young People’s Plan 2026-2029 as “an ambitious vision for children, young people and families…[which identifies] tangible actions linked to clear outcomes.”
Cllr Williams commented on the plan’s detailed assessment of local need and high level of engagement with partners and the community, and described the document as a “strong framework for how people will work together to improve lives and opportunities across the islands.”
Cllr Williams also praised the document for openly recognising a range of sensitive issues and sobering findings, alongside the more positive aspects of island life. He highlighted the representation of “the deprivation and poverty experienced by many residents, alongside wider determinants of health and wellbeing, including housing” as a particular strength of the plan.
You can view Cllr Williams’ speech and the wider Full Council discussion in full on our YouTube channel.