Love Letham
Love Letham is an innovative children's participation project currently running in Letham based in Perth and Kinross. The main aim of the project is to put children's wellbeing at the heart of local decision making.
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To deliver this groundbreaking project, we are working in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council, Northern Star, Early Years Scotland, Starcatchers and Cattanach. Our key aim is to make Letham the Best place it can be for children to grow up in.
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Working together with the children, young people, families and wider community, we created a shared vision of what children and young people need to flourish, as well as a plan to deliver it. By bringing children and communities together with decision makers, we're creating a shared roadmap that captures what matters most to people.
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This innovative programme is part of a growing movement of people, organisations and businesses across Scotland who are working to build a Wellbeing Economy. Together, we can transform Scotland's economy to deliver social justice on a healthy planet.
How we're getting there
Children share what wellbeing means to them
Starting with phase one of the project in 2021, we explored what areas of life are important for current and future wellbeing. We used a range of creative, age appropriate formats with as many children, young people and families as possible, especially those whose voices are less often heard in policy conversation. At the end of phase one, we produced a report highlighting the key findings.
We recruited a diverse Commission
The Love Letham Commission brings together residents, children, young people and key professionals from institutions such as the Council. A group of younger children (birth - five year olds), along with their parents and carers, are meeting separately so the sessions are age appropriate.
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Develop a shared vision and recommendations
The Commission is now analysing the data that's emerged from the exercises and conversations in the community, identifying recurring themes. They are using this to create a shared local vision for making Letham the best place it can be for children to grow up in, establishing priorities and developing recommendations.
Where does the Love Letham approach come from?
Love Letham comes from an understanding that the way we design policies must be radically rethought. In order to create a community where children and youne people can flourish, both now and in the future, policies and programmes must be co-designed.
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Love Letham asks us to lift our gaze - to work across silos, to think long-term about the outcomes we need to achieve for children and young people to thrive.
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This innovative project is one of a handful of projects globally that are implementing the Wellbeing Economy Alliance's Policy Design Guide - supporting people to create transformative policies with the full participation of citizens.
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Love Letham is also informed by a report by Dr Katherine Trebeck, with Amy Baker, Being Bold: building budgets for children's wellbeing that was commissioned by Children in Scotland, Cattanach and Carnegie UK.
Who's behind the project?
Love Letham is a partnership project between the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland (WEAll Scotland) and Perth and Kinross Council, commissioned following the WEAll Global report Being Bold: building budgets for children's wellbeing that was co-funded by Cattanach, who are continuing to fund phase two of the project.
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The project is in keeping with the Perth and Kinross Offer - the Councils commitment to draw on the strengths and assets of individuals and communities, working together so everyone in Perth and Kinross can live life well.
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The project is supported by Northern Star, Early Years Scotland and Starcatchers and is funded by Cattanach.
Get in touch!
WEAll Scotland is a member of the global Wellbeing Economy Alliance which has hubs all over the world. Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland is a Scottish Charitable Organisation: Charity Number SC049174. Principal office: Princes House, 51 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6SE
