What Matters to You and The Promise Scotland are pleased to invite you to our 2nd data event in follow-up to our April 2024 gathering, where we agreed the importance of sharing progress and learning on the way Scotland collects data and evidence to help improve outcomes for children and families and make a real difference to their lives.

In April, the importance of specific improvements needed at national level were identified and there will be an opportunity to review these and hear from Scottish Government on progress. A link to the April report and proposals is available here.

In November, you will hear an update on the What Matters to You (WM2U) Dundee approach. Progress has been considered so promising that the data project will be extended to June 2026.

Glyn Lloyd, Head of Children's and Community Justice Services and Kerstin Jorna, Senior Officer Children and Families and evidence lead for the Dundee and WM2U data project will:

Highlight the possibilities for improvement opened up by analysing how children are moving through the system as opposed to our usual approach in Scotland of capturing snapshots of the totality of children in a particular setting at one time.

Identify what this approach is helping us to learn, understand and change in the experiences of children and the extent of activity by practitioners.

Where next –to understand more about better value investments in prevention and early intervention and changing services to improve children’s experiences and outcomes.

Fraser McKinlay and The Promise Scotland Team will update on their work and learning relating to the Doing Data Differently work programme, including:

A very brief update on the Promise Data Map, the What Matters Questions and Understanding Progress, Plan 24-30.

A presentation about information and data sharing and keeping the promise, including an introduction to the Data for Children Collaborative’s Impact Collaboration, ‘What actions can we take to overcome the information and data sharing barriers relating to care experienced children in Scotland?’

We look forward to connecting with you again to share learning and progress with each other and to influence local and national changes in data collection and analysis.

Using Data Better to Achieve Improved Outcomes for Children and Families