Spotlight on Communi-crate

Helping children and young people have their voice heard

During 2026, we continued to strengthen our commitment to ensuring that children and young people are at the heart of every Hearing through the introduction of Communi-crate – an innovative communications toolkit designed to support participation and engagement.

Following a successful pilot in Glasgow, Communi-crate is being rolled out across Hearing centres throughout Scotland. The toolkit provides a range of communication aids and practical resources that help children and young people express their views, feelings and experiences in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful to them.

The initiative recognises that every child communicates differently and aims to provide additional opportunities for them to participate fully in decisions that affect their lives.

Communi-crate includes sensory noise-cancelling headphones and sunglasses, complementing the other sensory tools already available in Hearing centres. Rather than soley focusing on sensory support, it offers tools specifically designed to encourage communication, understanding and participation. These resources can be adapted to suit the individual needs of each child or young person, helping Hearing participants create an environment where they feel listened to, respected and empowered.

The development of Communi-crate reflects our ongoing dedication to improving the experiences of children and young people within the Children’s Hearings System.

Feedback gathered during the pilot phase demonstrated the value of providing practical, accessible ways for young people to communicate their thoughts and feelings. By creating a toolkit that can be used flexibly and consistently across the country, we are helping to ensure a more inclusive and child-centred approach in Hearings.

To support implementation, a comprehensive package of guidance and learning materials has been developed for operational managers, staff and partners and partners are key to this – for this to be as effective as possible, it relies on all partners to support and promote use within Hearings. This includes webinars, training videos, briefing materials, practical guides and examples of how the tools can be used in Hearing settings. Managers have been encouraged to share this information with their teams and with professionals who attend Hearings, using approaches that best suit local circumstances. The aim is for Communi-crate to be fully introduced and embedded in all Hearings involving children and young people by the end of 2026.

A key strength of Communi-crate is its focus on the lived experiences of children and young people. Resources have been shaped by participation and feedback, ensuring the toolkit remains practical, engaging and relevant. By giving children more ways to share their views, whether verbally or through alternative methods of communication, the toolkit helps create a Hearing experience that is more accessible and responsive to individual needs.

Communi-crate represents an important step forward in SCRA’s journey to realise children’s rights and promote meaningful participation. It reinforces our belief that every child should be able to engage in Hearings in a way that works for them and that their views should be heard, understood and taken seriously.

As implementation continues nationwide, Communi-crate is helping to build Hearing environments where children and young people can participate with confidence, ensuring their voices remain central to decision-making within the Children’s Hearings System.