When: 30 September 2025, 10:00-15:45
Where: The Social Hub, Glasgow, 15 Candleriggs Square, Glasgow G1 1TQ, UK
"We have put together this summit to connect with each other and share ideas. We want to make sure that Cost of the School Day is something that everyone knows about and thinks about, so this summit will help everyone to have the confidence to speak out."
The young people summit committee
| 10:00 | arrive to register |
| 10:30 | welcome and introductions |
| 11:00 | workshop 1 (more details below) |
| 11:50 | workshop 2 (more details below) |
| 12:40 | lunch |
| 13:30 | session with the First Minister for Scotland, John Swinney |
| 14:00 | have your say - help build the children's manifesto for change |
| 15:00 | session with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth |
| 15:30 | close |
| 15:45 | depart venue |
Share your great Cost of the School Day work and learn from others.
This workshop is all about the great things happening in your schools to tackle poverty and make sure that everyone is included. You’ll be supported to describe what you do and to hear from other schools, and your examples will be included in an exciting real-time illustration which will be shared after the summit for inspiration.
What could Scotland look like if no young person lived in poverty?
This workshop challenges you to imagine how our schools, communities and country could look if no young people were held back by poverty. What would it be like if nobody at school had money worries? How could our communities be even better places to live? How would this change the country? You’ll use Stopmotion animation to bring your words and ideas to life.
Make your case and take a stand against poverty.
This workshop will help you build communication skills. You’ll learn how to tell a story, polish and prioritise your arguments, and fine-tune your delivery. You will leave with tools you can use to get your message across and persuade everyone that positive change matters.
This session, for teachers and people working in education, focuses on financial entitlements for families with school-age children. It will provide an overview of universal credit, child benefit and the additional help available in Scotland through Scottish child payment and best start grant. It will also cover free school meals and clothing grants and look at strategies to help schools promote take-up and ensure families are not missing out on their entitlements.
We'll be sharing details of this workshop as soon as they're available.
The top politicians in Scotland who make decisions about education will be speaking at the summit and taking part in some of the day's activities.
John Swinney has been the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), and Scotland's First Minister since May 2024, and has been an MSP in the Scottish Parliament since it opened in 1999.
In a letter responding to the planning committee's invitation, John Swinney said:
"This will be a great opportunity for me to listen, learn and hear directly from you about the work you are doing in your schools to tackle this important issue and understand what more we need to do to improve young people's attendance, engagement and learning at school. I am particularly keen to hear from you about the challenges young people face and the brilliant ideas you have for making things better, together."
Jenny Gilruth has been the Cabinet Secretary for Education since 2023, and has been an MSP at the Scottish Parliament since 2016. Before she was elected as an MSP, Ms Gilruth worked in schools as a teacher and with Education Scotland on Modern Studies qualifications.
When Ms Gilruth met children and young people from the Voice network in April this year she said:
"It's been really heartwarming to hear the strength and the passion from young people, and it's so important that all politicians listen to all children and young people."
Everyone at the summit will have the chance to help build a manifesto which sets out young people's poverty and education priorities and their views on how poverty should be tackled in their schools and communities. We'll work with the Voice network to share this with politicians across Scotland ahead of the elections in 2026.
Absolutely! Watch this space for Challenge Poverty Week activities to help your school get involved and contribute to the manifesto.
We will be running a pre-summit online meeting on 10 September to help young people prepare for the day.
Anyone who has a place at the summit will receive a Teams link. We strongly recommend that everyone comes along as it will really help all delegates to make the most of the summit experience.
We ask that all group leaders complete the information form for yourself and on behalf of the young people attending. We've emailed you a link to this form along with a photo and film permission form which we're asking you to share with parents and carers. Please complete both these forms by 8 September at the latest.
For questions or requests about travel and accommodation, please contact our Participation Officer Kirsty Campbell at [email protected]. Kirsty can also answer any other questions you might have.
The Social Hub is in central Glasgow, close to both Central Station and Queen Street Station, Buchanan Bus Station and car parks. Click on the address below to find the venue on the map:
15 Candleriggs Square, Glasgow G1 1TQ, UK
If you're driving, these car parks are nearby:
Please note that these car parks lie within the Low Emissions Zone (LEZ), and your vehicle needs to be compliant to use them. The first car park outwith the LEZ is City Parking, Duke Street G4 0UW.
