More than £200,000 will be invested in helping young people in Clydebank tackle problems related to the care system.

The funding, put forward by the Life Changes Trust, will offer care experienced young people in West Dunbartonshire the opportunity to have more of a say in the decisions that affect them – through a Champions Board initiative.

The Champions Board will provide those raised in the care system with a platform to offer their experience and informed voices to help highlight issues that need to be addressed. They will work closely alongside elected local authority representatives, health boards and other public agencies.

The board will also serve as an informal forum for young people to meet with the people responsible for their care, well-being and future life chances, and give them an opportunity to engage in a decision-making process and, so that they can have a say in local service design and delivery.

Councillor Marie McNair, convener of West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “The funding to introduce our Champions Board will help us ensure the voices of our children and young people are heard, their opinions respected, and we act on their ideas for change.

“We are committed to ensuring every child in our care receives the same care, attention and personal development to make sure they strive from young children to mature adults and play an active part in society.”

Heather Coady, director of the trust’s Care Experienced Young People Programme, said: “We believe that better outcomes for care experienced young people are more likely to be secured if children and young people are listened to, included and involved in the planning of their support and care.”

West Dunbartonshire has already established a youth forum for children in care, and the new Champions Board aims to engage with even more care experienced young people across the region.