Youth violence campaigner begs third Swinney summit 'cannot be another talking shop'
The mum of a schoolgirl who was brutally battered on a school bus has begged "this cannot be another talking shop" after John Swinney announced a third summit on youth violence.
Vicky Donald's 15-year-old daughter, Kaylynn, was attacked during the journey on her way home from class in Ladybank, Fife, two years ago. Since then she has called for urgent action as a youth violence epidemic grips Scotland.
The latest summit, and her renewed plea, comes in the wake of three blade tragedies in the last 12 months, including the deaths of 16-year-old Kory McCrimmon on May 31, 2024, Amen Teklay, 15, on March 5 this year and Kayden Moy, 16, on May 17 just last month.
All three deaths have taken place amid the Record's youth violence campaign, Our Kids ... Our Future, which launched two years ago after we highlighted a concerning series of attacks on teens. As part of the campaign, we have demanded the Scottish Government to invest in young people and in initiatives to prevent violence.
stop more kids from dying.
"If not, then let's hope another child doesn't die in between this summit and the next."
The emergency event will hear from the Justice and Education Secretaries, Ministers for Children and for Victims and Community Safety, as well as cross-party MSPs, youth workers and partners delivering violence reduction and other community programmes for young people.
The gathering is expected to focus on actions through education and community engagement with young people at risk of violence and prevent them from turning to antisocial behaviour or crime - including carrying a weapon.
It is the third event of its kind after similar summits were held in September 2023 and in January.
During the most recent event, Vicky, Kaylynn, other victims and their families met with Swinney at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh to tell them how their attacks had impacted their lives.
The sit-down was secured after Kaylynn - who was left requiring mental health support following her beating in October 2022 - demanded the First Minister to act urgently to prevent further tragedies.
The family wrote to Swinney again after Kayden's death last month and slammed his government's "inaction" to combat youth violence.
Vicky said: "My daughter and others already gave their time, their pain, and their voices at the last summit. They told the truth.
"And what happened? More promises, more headlines—and no real change. It's become clear that this government hides behind words, summits, and staged concern.
"While young people continue to suffer and communities live in fear, the First Minister offers talk instead of action. We don't need more polished statements—we need bold, immediate steps to make our streets safer.
"After this, the Scottish Government simply cannot hold any more summits.
"They've now heard from teachers, experts, victims and their families so by now, they should have a good picture of how bad the issue of youth violence is.
"Until action is taken, all this is just theatre."
Three teenage boys aged 14, 15, and 16 have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Amen, an Eritrean refugee, in Glasgow's Maryhill.
In recent weeks, three teenage boys – a pair aged 17 and a 14-year-old – have appeared in court charged with the murder of Kayden, who was allegedly attacked on Irvine Beach in North Ayrshire, and died in hospital.
And just last month, a 14-year-old boy was sentenced to five years detention after admitting culpable homicide following the death of Kory at Glasgow's Greenfield Park last year.
Ahead of Thursday's summit, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice Angela Constance said: 'It's important to be clear that Scotland remains a safe place to live.
"But more needs to be done to change the attitudes and behaviours of some who are at risk of violence, or those young people who are considering carrying a weapon. There is no place for violence in Scotland and anyone who commits a crime, will face the consequences.
'Our work remains focused on ensuring our prevention and punishment measures respond to the changing behaviours of young people. This includes ensuring good school and community engagement with young people, appropriate police powers and tackling the root causes of violence.
'At this meeting we want to hear the views of the youth work and third sector representatives on what more, or different, can be done, within the current financial climate, to help address this issue. The role of youth work and grassroot community intervention is key. We all must work together to help young people feel safe and realise that carrying a knife is never the answer.'
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