Safe, Active, Happy
Kathleen Marshall became Scotland's first Commissioner in April 2004. She and her team consulted with children and young people and professionals about what important issues the office should first work on. Over 16,000 children and young people voted and the result was 'Safe, Active Happy', a group of projects which were linked by the main issue that was highlighted as a problem: 'things to do'.
Things to Do
Kathleen and her team worked to make an impact in many areas of the 'things to do' agenda. This included projects on the moving and handling of children with disabilities, leisure and recreational activities for looked after children, adult attitudes to contact with children and young people and the age of leaving care in Scotland. The team also created a Detective Kit - a resource for primary aged children to map out and discuss what activities they could do in their local area.
Other areas of work
Kathleen also worked on other issues such as the rights and status of the children of prisoners. The office led on the production of the UK Children's Commissioners' report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and gave evidence in Geneva as part of the UK delegation in June 2008.
Kathleen's term ended in April 2009.