Landmark moment at the Scottish Parliament for Enable

On Thursday 29th January, the Scottish Parliament, Enable Trustee, Scottish Council Member and inspirational campaigner Beth Morrison was joined by Enable Ambassador, Heather Gilchrist, to hear the Parliamentary debate on the Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill, also known as Calum’s Law.

The Bill has passed Stage 1 at the Scottish Parliament, which is a real victory for the whole team who have campaigned tirelessly to bring Scotland's law in line with the rights of disabled children and young people enshrined in the United Nations conventions UNCRPD and UNCRC.

In 2010, Beth’s son Calum was seriously injured following a restraint in school. When Beth discovered that there was no national guidance governing the use of physical intervention in Scotland’s schools, she became a determined and passionate campaigner for change.

Her advocacy inspired Enable’s ‘In Safe Hands?’ campaign and has since grown into a UK‑wide movement, working with organisations and decision‑makers across the country to ensure the rights of the most vulnerable children are respected and upheld.

The debate marked an important step forward, with MSPs recognising the harm caused by inappropriate use of restraint and seclusion and the need for clear, human-rights based legislation. The Bill will now progress through the next stages of Parliamentary scrutiny, where Enable and campaigners will continue to press for strong protections for children and young people.

Beth’s contribution to our charity and to society has previously been recognised through Enable's Outstanding Achievement Award, with her wider campaigning achievements seeing her named an Outstanding Woman of Scotland by the Saltire Society, Times Education Supplement Person of the Year, and a recipient of an Amnesty International Award.

Enable will continue to stand alongside Beth and all campaigners working to ensure that every child across Scotland is truly in safe hands at school as we work to build an equal society where everyone has the right to live, work and participate in the communities of their choice.