Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland is the independent statutory public office, established in 2003 and led by Commissioner Nicola Killean, that promotes and protects the human rights of children and young people aged 0–18 across all 32 of Scotland's local authorities through investigations, strategic litigation, legal briefs, and Parliament engagement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland does
The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland is an independent statutory public office established by the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003 and headquartered in Edinburgh. It is the sole body in Scotland with statutory remit to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people aged 0–18, and operates with jurisdiction across all 32 of Scotland's local authorities. The office is led by Commissioner Nicola Killean (appointed 2024) and is funded through the Scottish Government budget; it is not a commercial entity, has no shareholders, and does not generate commercial revenue.
The office's outputs are clustered around four core service lines: (i) formal investigations conducted under Section 7 powers, including the published 'No Safe Place' restraint and seclusion investigation (December 2018, 22 recommendations), the Secure Accommodation investigation (June 2021, 118 children examined across 27 local authorities), and the Mental Health: Counselling in Schools investigation (May 2023, 31 of 32 local authorities responded); (ii) strategic litigation, including a co-led action with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on restraint and seclusion; (iii) legal briefs and a published Strategic Litigation Toolkit for human rights defenders; and (iv) rights-education resources, including simplified UNCRC articles and participation programmes (e.g., Shoogle Labs, Storylines, online assemblies).
The office's mandate was materially expanded in 2024 by the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which created new statutory powers to take legal action against public authorities for rights breaches. Its go-to-market model is non-commercial: outputs are distributed free via the website (cypcs.org.uk), Scottish Parliament engagement (MSP briefings, committee evidence), direct correspondence with ministers and Police Scotland, and partnerships with the Scottish Human Rights Commission, EHRC Scotland, the Observatory of Children's Human Rights Scotland, A Place in Childhood, and The Promise Scotland. Contact channels include BSL accessibility via Contact Scotland BSL, social media on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and a published Freedom of Information service under the FOI (Scotland) Act 2002.
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
- Legal name
- Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
- Website
- https://cypcs.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland is the independent statutory public office, established in 2003 and led by Commissioner Nicola Killean, that promotes and protects the human rights of children and young people aged 0–18 across all 32 of Scotland's local authorities through investigations, strategic litigation, legal briefs, and Parliament engagement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Rights Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG)
Keywords
Where Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland is a statutory independent public office that promotes and protects the human rights of children and young people in Scotland. Its core offerings include conducting formal investigations under Section 7 of the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003, engaging in strategic litigation including court interventions, producing legal briefs for human rights defenders, delivering policy guidance and MSP briefings, and publishing educational resources such as simplified UNCRC articles and a strategic litigation toolkit.
Product overview
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland is a public body that operates as a single, unified service focused on protecting and promoting the human rights of children and young people in Scotland. The organization provides advocacy services, conducts formal investigations into children's rights issues, engages in strategic litigation, produces legal briefs and policy guidance, and publishes educational resources including simplified UNCRC articles and rights information. The portfolio consists primarily of investigative reports (such as the Restraint and Seclusion investigation, Mental Health: Counselling in Schools investigation, and Secure Accommodation investigation), legal advisory products (strategic litigation toolkit, legal briefs on topics like No Recourse to Public Funds), policy publications, and educational resources about children's human rights under the UNCRC and ECHR frameworks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Investigations Formal investigations conducted by the Commissioner using statutory powers under Section 7 of the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003 to examine systemic issues affecting children's human rights in Scotland, producing reports with recommendations for public authorities.
- Strategic Litigation Legal intervention by the Commissioner in court cases that can impact children's rights more broadly by establishing important legal principles in Scotland, including cases involving No Recourse to Public Funds, Deprivation of Liberty, Restraint and Seclusion, and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.
- Legal Briefs Legal advisory documents produced by the Commissioner's office to inform human rights defenders, advocates, and legal professionals about children's rights issues under Scots law and the UNCRC framework.
- Freedom of Information Service Public access to information held by the Commissioner's office, handled under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 via email, post, and social media channels.
Companies that use Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Equality and Human Rights Commission ScotlandcoreCollaborated with the Commissioner's office on judicial review against the Scottish Government regarding restraint and seclusion in schools. The EHRC used its legal powers to support proceedings in the Scottish courts following the Commissioner's investigation findings.
- Scottish Human Rights CommissioncoreJoint signatory on letters raising concerns about children's rights issues including the use of live facial recognition technology by Police Scotland and the need for a statutory framework on restraint and seclusion.
- Observatory of Children's Human Rights ScotlandmajorPartnered to conduct the largest Independent Children's Rights Impact Assessment on how emergency coronavirus laws and policies affected children and young people in Scotland.
- A Place in Childhood (APiC)majorCollaborated on the #ScotYouthandCOVID2 project during the second lockdown, gathering views and experiences of 25 young people from across Scotland and generating a list of Asks for the Scottish Government.
- The Promise ScotlandmajorJoint signatory with the Commissioner, Scottish Human Rights Commission, and Equality and Human Rights Commission urging the Scottish Government to establish a unified statutory framework on restraint and seclusion.
- Contact Scotland BSLminorBSL users can contact the Commissioner's office via an online BSL/English interpreter service, enabling accessibility for deaf children and young people.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People: Statutory Commissioner for Children and Young People in Northern Ireland with equivalent mandate to safeguard and promote children's rights and to undertake formal investigations. Closely comparable statutory peer across the UK.
- Children's Commissioner for England: Statutory Children's Commissioner for England with parallel legal powers to promote and protect children's rights, conduct investigations, and advise Parliament. Most direct functional peer given equivalent statutory remit in a UK jurisdiction.
- Children's Commissioner for Wales: Statutory Children's Commissioner for Wales established under its own dedicated Act, with similar mandate to review law, policy, and practice affecting children in Wales. Closely comparable in scope and statutory powers.
Broad incumbents
- Equality and Human Rights Commission (Scotland): Statutory body with UK-wide remit to enforce equality and human rights law. Partnered with CYPCS on the judicial review concerning restraint and seclusion in Scottish schools, using its own legal powers to support proceedings.
- Scottish Human Rights Commission: National human rights institution for Scotland with broader human rights mandate including children's rights. Joint signatory and active collaborator with CYPCS on restraint/seclusion and live facial recognition issues.
- Australian Human Rights Commission (Children's Rights Commissioner functions): Australian national human rights institution that includes a Children's Commissioner function, addressing children's rights under the UNCRC. Comparable role in advocacy and complaint investigation though at federal rather than sub-national level.
Regional players
- Office of the Children's Commissioner (New Zealand): Independent New Zealand Crown entity advocating for children's rights and wellbeing. Comparable in promoting UNCRC principles and conducting systemic advocacy and inquiry work, though in a different jurisdiction.
- Office of the Ombudsman for Children (Ireland): Independent statutory body promoting and monitoring the rights and welfare of children in Ireland. Functions include investigating complaints and publishing reports, providing a cross-jurisdiction comparator for CYPCS.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland social profiles
Digital presenceChildren and Young People's Commissioner Scotland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
What does Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland do?
The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland is a statutory independent public office that promotes and protects the human rights of children and young people in Scotland. Its core offerings include conducting formal investigations under Section 7 of the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003, engaging in strategic litigation including court interventions, producing legal briefs for human rights defenders, delivering policy guidance and MSP briefings, and publishing educational resources such as simplified UNCRC articles and a strategic litigation toolkit.
Is Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland a public or private company?
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland founded?
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland based?
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland is headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Children's Commissioner for England and Children's Commissioner for Wales. Broad incumbents are Equality and Human Rights Commission (Scotland), Scottish Human Rights Commission and Australian Human Rights Commission (Children's Rights Commissioner functions). Regional players are Office of the Children's Commissioner (New Zealand) and Office of the Ombudsman for Children (Ireland).
Does Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland have an API?
No public API is recorded for Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland.
What industry is Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland in?
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland's product category is Children's Rights Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAG, Child Protection & Child Rights, with a secondary code of BPADAGAG, Child Rights & Protection. Its NAICS code is 922 and its SIC code is 8111.