Productions
The Promise Scotland
Using Legislative Theatre to address a critical oversight in Scotland’s National Care Review
Performance:
“They Took My Child”
Our Forum Theatre production, They Took My Child, was an indepth experience that allowed audiences to look inside how social work processes can affect families from diverse backgrounds in disproportionate and biased ways.
Production background
In February 2025, The Promise Oversight Board commissioned TO SCOT to create and deliver a powerful Forum Theatre production as part of their anti-racist training. Developed with lived experience, sector expertise, and rooted in anti-racist principles, the piece equipped the Board with new perspectives and practical insights. It played a key role in shaping their upcoming recommendations and demonstrated how creative practice can drive systemic change.
Following this, Passion4Fusion contracted TO Scot Creative Artist Director and Specialist Anti-Racist Consultant, Khaleda Noon to lead vital research addressing systemic inequalities faced by Black and racialised families within Scotland’s social care and education systems. This work, supported through the Corra Foundation’s Promise Partnership Grant and The Promise Scotland, built on Khaleda’s extensive track record in anti-racist systems change.
Khaleda organised a series of initiatives to further the dialogue for systemic change. Roundtable discussions and forum theatre events were held with MSPs and ministers, providing a direct platform for policymakers to hear from those with lived experience. These events were crucial in holding decision-makers accountable and in fostering a deeper understanding of the issues faced by Black and racialised children and families.
How The Promise failed to see Black and racialised families in the care system
In October 2016, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon commissioned the Independent Care Review to figure out how Scotland could love its most vulnerable children and give them the childhood they deserve. In February 2017 when Fiona Duncan, CEO of the Corra Foundation was appointed as Chair. In February 2020, the Care Review worked to figure out how to keep that Promise. The work of the whole Care Review culminated in the publication of 7 outputs on the 5th February 2020, the main volume of which was called The Promise.
Over time, it became clear that Scotland’s national Care Review - and subsequently, The Promise Scotland - had overlooked a critical dimension: a meaningful, sustained focus on anti-racism. Despite its commitments to systemic reform and better outcomes for care-experienced children and families, the process had failed to centre racial equity or acknowledge the lived realities of Black and racialised e communities within the care system.
“Black and racialised families deserve justice. Their children deserve to stay with their families when safe to do so. Black and racialised community workers deserve respect.”
Helene Rodger
Passion4Fusion
Theatre as a catalyst for change
TOscot’s forum theatre piece has highlighted how creative methods can uncover systemic barriers and spark discussions that lead to meaningful change.
Support from the Corra Foundation and The Promise Scotland ensured the work was rooted in the vision of creating a more compassionate, family-centred system. Passion4Fusion’s role as lead partner brought invaluable insights from migrant communities, emphasising the importance of amplifying their voices within Scotland’s social services framework.
Key Insights from the Legislative Theatre Performance
1. Elevating Issues to
Decision-Makers
Attendees consistently emphasised the importance of policymakers and decision-makers being exposed to these stories.
As one participant noted:
“Decision-makers need to see this performance and reflect on their biases.”
2. Mandatory Cultural Competency Training
Across all sectors - social work, education, and healthcare - there was a call for continuous, mandatory training on cultural competency.
This training, participants suggested, would help professionals better understand and serve Scotland’s diverse communities.
3. Reimagining Social Services
Beyond training, many advocated for systemic change, including rethinking policies and practices to prioritise family support over punitive measures.
“Stop taking children away from families; support them instead,” one attendee urged.
4. Broadening the Impact
To truly drive change, the performance must reach wider audiences, including policymakers, educators, and other key stakeholders.
Suggestions included tailoring performances to target groups and exploring how different audience demographics respond to the same themes.
Get the full picture
Read the report developed in partnership with Passion4Fusion