"I enjoyed meeting new people, being heard, and helping with something so important"
Young attendee at the summit
Press play to find out what happened at the Cost of the School Day young people summit
The First Minister for Scotland, John Swinney, came along to the summit to hear what young people had to say. He gave a speech, and was interviewed by two Voice network members, Brooke and Mollie, where he promised to 'listen with care' to everything that young people told him.
The delegates pulled no punches in their questions to the First Minister:
Why do families not have enough money to live on in as a result, use food banks?
Young people want to know how you will make sure that every kid in school will have less or no money worries?
What is the Scottish Government's top priority and what actions are being done in Parliament to address poverty in schools across Scotland?
Dunlop Primary School pupils tell the First Minister about their school's HEART initiative - Helping Everyone At the Right Time
Brooke and Mollie from Trinity High School in South Lanarkshire interviewed the First Minister for Scotland, John Swinney, at the Cost of the School Day young people summit in September 2025. Brooke and Mollie quizzed the First Minister about what more his government will do to make sure that poverty is not a barrier to taking part at school and learning.
Play to watch Brooke and Mollie from Trinity High School interview the First Minister John Swinney
Click play to see a Live Illustration of the First Minister's speech and the Q&A session
Young people at the summit did a brilliant job of starting to develop the Young People's Education and Poverty Manifesto 2026-31. Many others have offered their thoughts through an online survey and in other ways. All this information has been compiled into a manifesto, 'School Shouldn't Cost, The Young People's Poverty and Education Manifesto 2026-2031', which sets out young people's calls for equity in education and a Scotland free of child poverty. Young people shared the manifesto with the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education at a special session at the First Minister's official residence in December.
In the weeks leading up to the Scottish election your school can get involved by sharing the manifesto with as many other politicians and decision makers. There's lots of information here about how you can do that on this page. We would really like to know how you got on - get in touch and tell us what you did! [email protected]
Voice network members at the summit, and the First Minister for Scotland
If your school hasn't already, join us to be part of a great network of school equity groups making big changes.
