GIRFEC National Competition Winner is Oban High School S4 Student Niamh Macauley
Oban High School S5 pupil Niamh Macauley’s beautifully drawn poster was the winning entry from among hundreds of submissions in the national GIRFEC student competition. Sponsored by the Scottish government’s programme known as Getting It Right For Every Child, the topic for the design competition was “What does well being mean to you?”

Niamh will travel to Edinburgh next week to be honoured for her winning artwork by the GIRFEC officials who will treat Niamh and her mother to breakfast and lunch and a tour of their facility. The trip will give Niahm a chance to see first-hand what the GIRFEC organisation does.
“I was so surprised to have had my work chosen as the winning in the design competition,” she said modestly. “I am really pleased to be part of this programme that helps kids and their families.”

Design competition
For young artists and designers, GIRFEC judges sought out a design for a cover for the guide – or perhaps for its web-based version. Again, basing their work on one of the eight GIRFEC indicators, pupils were invited to draw, paint, collage, design or photograph what one of these words means to them. Niamh’s winning entry…….

About GIRFEC
As children and young people progress on their journey through life, some may have temporary difficulties, some may live with challenges and some may experience more complex issues.
Sometimes they – and their families – are going to need help and support.
No matter where they live or whatever their needs, children, young people and their families should always know where they can find help, what support might be available and whether that help is right for them.

The Getting it right for every child approach ensures that anyone providing that support puts the child or young person – and their family – at the centre.
Getting it right for every child is important for everyone who works with children and young people – as well as many people who work with adults who look after children. Practitioners need to work together to support families, and where appropriate, take early action at the first signs of any difficulty – rather than only getting involved when a situation has already reached crisis point. This means working across organisational boundaries and putting children and their families at the heart of decision making – and giving all our children and young people the best possible start in life.