A Network of Promise Keepers: Renfrewshire's Story of Change

2025 marks the halfway point to Scotland keeping the promise.

To mark it, The Promise Scotland is highlighting some of the stories from the people who’ve been working to keep it across the country— such as those who've been working in Renfrewshire: 

Since the Scottish Government made a pledge to dedicate greater focus to the voices and needs of care-experienced young people, what better way would there be to honour this than to build a network of ‘Promise Keepers’?

Renfrewshire Promise Keepers embody the commitment the area’s Children’s Services Partnership has to The Promise. The partnership has built an ever growing network of individuals who have come together to learn about the initiative and meaningful changes that can make Scotland a better place for children to grow up in. After training, they get to share knowledge in the community with colleagues, family and friends, while being involved in activity that helps to improve services for care-experienced young people.

Now, after two years, there are 330 Promise Keepers across Renfrewshire – within the council, and among elected members, partner organisations, third-sector volunteers and local foster carers. 

“I feel I’ve made a real difference already”

A teacher from St Andrew’s Academy in Paisley is one of the 330. “I’ve been a Promise Keeper for over a year now,” she says, “and I feel I’ve made a real difference already. I’ve helped raise staff awareness by delivering training to different faculties, and I’ve also supported several care-experienced young people in their transition from Primary school.”

Experiencing foster care when younger inspired her to be a Promise Keeper. “My teachers at school gave me love and support – especially my English teacher. Without her nurturing approach, I wouldn't have gone to university or become a successful teacher, myself. So, I know exactly how it feels, and really get how important consistency is in a child’s life.”

“We all want children to feel valued, respected and heard”

One of the members of the council’s events team became a Promise Keeper to help care-experienced young people access and engage with the same creative opportunities as peers. "I love to see young people explore their passion and creativity, and discover a passion for something new,” she says. “I recognised there were barriers care-experienced young people faced that meant they weren’t always hearing about opportunities. I knew I could help change that by listening to them, then collaborating with others across the region.”

Colleagues at Glenburn Early Learning and Childcare Centre revealed that becoming Promise Keepers illuminated their shared purpose. A senior member of staff said, “We all want children to feel valued, respected and heard. Training gave me a new perspective on what it’s like to be care-experienced, as well as the effect that living with uncertainty, and feeling like you don’t have a say in what happens to you, can have. That’s why we always encourage open conversations and a supportive environment – for the children and parents.”

Another team member at the centre said Promise Keepers training opened her eyes to the impact she can have in her role. "What surprised me was how childhood influences really stay with you right through to adulthood,” she said. “Even small experiences can colour a view of the world and impact decisions."

Promise-led roles within Renfrewshire Council

At Renfrewshire Council, two new promise-led job roles have allowed the team to drive an ambitious programme of change across the area.

As a member of the Children’s Services Senior Leadership team, Promise Manager Maurice Gilligan plays a core role in strategic planning and implementation, working closely with key stakeholders. Promise Ambassador Sam Macrae then helps teams and services embed the opinions of care-experienced young people into their service provision and design, and works on employment opportunities and work-based support.

Asked about the challenges they’ve faced around the Promise, Maurice says:

“One of the initial things was ensuring widespread awareness and engagement. Despite our ongoing efforts, there have been times when colleagues haven’t been fully aware of the commitment and actions required. It’s highlighted the need for strong communication, and pushed us to promote Promise-related things like our language policy, iLearn training and the Promise Network.”

“Another challenge, which isn’t unique to Renfrewshire, is the Covid and post-Covid difficulties our care-experienced communities and colleagues have had to face, and the fact they’ve been disproportionately affected by the increase in cost of living – that’s over and above the barriers they face with everyday lived experience. It’s meant we’ve had to revisit the costs and timings of projects, it’s required ongoing planning and systematic resource management, as well as a strong approach to finding additional funding.”

Maurice tells us more about some other promise-led work:

Whole-family wellbeing

Employing a whole-family wellbeing approach has helped teams integrate early intervention and preventative services. Their families receive holistic support tailored to them, while crisis interventions are minimised through all round support at various levels of need. Important developments in this area include a digital system to request assistance, and increased collaboration with third-sector partners.

Renfrewshire ‘Promise Champs’

The council’s Youth Services team supports a ‘Youth Voice for Care-Experienced Young People’ programme. Within this, a Promise Champs group has created leadership training, summer club activities, and a Christmas present drive for care-experience children. Members also get the opportunity to influence change and shape services.

School support

Two Keep the Promise Partnership-funded projects focus on supportive school structures and transitions for care-experienced pupils.

One, at Johnstone High School, reduces exclusions by ensuring care-experienced students have a key advocate to support attendance and participation. The second, at St Andrew’s Academy, improves transitions. Co-produced with the care-experienced community, both projects are designed to create a supportive and inclusive educational environment.

The second, at St Andrew’s Academy, improves transitions for care-experienced pupils.

Co-produced with the care-experienced community, both are designed to create a supportive and inclusive educational environment.

Work support

Several initiatives now improve employment opportunities for care-experienced individuals and support them when they’re in the workforce. The Promise Human Library Project matches young people with Promise Keepers who work in career fields of interest, providing mentorship and guidance. An iLearn module allows staff to access information about the promise. And, in 2025, a Care-Experienced Staff Network will be launched to offer staff with care-experience a safe space to share and support each other.

“A testament to dedication and collaborative efforts”

Renfrewshire has developed strong relationships with the Scottish Government, The Promise Scotland and COSLA. The Promise Team has actively participated in national consultations and shared progress with others. They have also prioritised engagement with community planning partnerships and third-sector organisations, and fostered a collaborative approach. This collaborative effort has raised awareness and support for The Promise across various sectors and communities.

“We’re proud of what’s been achieved since committing to Keep the Promise,” says Maurice. “Improving outcomes for care-experienced children, young people and their families is at the centre of what we all do, and the progress made so far is testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of Renfrewshire’s Children’s Services Partnership and the wider community.”

2025: The halfway point for the promise

Find out about what's been happening to keep the promise over the last five years.