The First Minister has pledged new action to tackle an epidemic of youth violence in Scotland after meeting with 13-year-old Kaylynn Donald on Wednesday.
First Minister John Swinney has promised to tackle the issue of youth violence in Scotland after meeting a teenage victim and her mum.
The incident, which was filmed by onlookers and uploaded to social media, left the schoolgirl suicidal and requiring mental health support. The mother and daughter asked Swinney to hold a fresh summit on youth violence that will hear directly from victims and their families after a similar summit held last year - which excluded victims and was held behind closed doors - was slammed by campaigners as "nothing more than a talking shop".
Vicky said Swinney's pledge will deliver "fresh hope" to victims of youth violence desperate to have their voices heard. Speaking on the summit held last year to discuss increasing levels of violence in schools, Vicky added: "The last summit was well intended but in the end, it was only a set of talking shops. It excluded victims and their families and was held completely behind closed doors.
"This has given us fresh hope, so hopefully, nothing gets in the way of this event. I have got a big voice and I'll fight for our children and young people until something is done." He said: "We will be funding different approaches, whether it be through councils, youth groups, or third-sector organisations. But, what it doesn't guarantee is that in every community, there is going to be one of these good facilities.
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