Tag: Young people

Stop tobacco industry exploitation of children and young people, says WHO

The World Health Organization has launched a new kit for school students aged 13-17 to alert them to the tobacco industry tactics used to hook them to addictive products.

Every year the tobacco industry invests more than USD 9 billion to advertise its products. Increasingly, it is targeting young people with nicotine and tobacco products in a bid to replace the 8 million people that its products kill every year.

This year’s WHO’s World No Tobacco Day (31 May) campaign focuses on protecting children and young people from exploitation by the tobacco and related industry.

The toolkit has a set of classroom activities including one that puts the students in the shoes of the tobacco industry to make them aware of how the industry tries to manipulate them into using deadly products. It also includes an educational video, myth-buster quiz, and homework assignments.

The toolkit exposes tactics such as parties and concerts hosted by the tobacco and related industries, e-cigarette flavours that attract youth like bubble-gum and candy, e-cigarette representatives presenting in schools, and product placement in popular youth  streaming shows.

Even during a global pandemic, the tobacco and nicotine industry persist by pushing products that limit people’s ability to fight coronavirus and recover from the disease. The industry has offered free branded masks and delivery to your door during quarantine and has lobbied for their products to be listed as ‘essential’.

Smoking suffocates the lungs and other organs, starving them of the oxygen they need to develop and function properly.

“Educating youth is vital because nearly 9 out of 10 smokers start before age 18. We want to provide young people with the knowledge to speak out against tobacco industry manipulation,” said Ruediger Krech, Director for Health Promotion at WHO.

Over 40 million young people aged 13-15 have already started to use tobacco. To reach Generation Z, WHO launched a TikTok dance challenge and welcomed social media partners like Pinterest, Tinder, YouTube and TikTok to amplify messaging.

WHO calls on all sectors to help stop marketing tactics of tobacco and related industries that prey on children and young people:

  • Schools refuse any form of sponsorship and prohibit representatives from nicotine and tobacco companies from speaking to students
  • Celebrities and influencers reject all offers of sponsorship
  • Television and streaming services stop showing tobacco or e-cigarette use on screen
  • Social media platforms ban the marketing of tobacco and related products and prohibit influencer marketing
  • Government and financial sector divest from tobacco and related industries
  • Governments ban all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship

Countries can protect children from industry exploitation by putting in place strict tobacco control laws, including regulating products like e-cigarettes that have already begun to hook a new generation of young people.

 

MCR Pathways to provide 300 disadvantaged young Scots with internet access

MENTORING charity, MCR Pathways, is helping to provide a digital lifeline to the country’s most disadvantaged young people living in homes without computers and internet access.

It is feared these young people are being left behind adding to a growing crisis in the attainment gap. MCR will especially focus on school leavers to support them individually through this unprecedented period of uncertainty and anxiety.

Since lockdown in the UK, the award-winning mentoring charity has connected over 1,300 young people with their staff and mentors via video calls, live chat and emails.

As one young person, Chloe, said of her mentor: “You need someone to remind you that you can do it, that you’re going somewhere and that the only thing that will get you there is not giving up.

“That’s what a mentor does. Being isolated in lockdown, it’s even more important to know that the work you’re doing is for something, that someone believes in your future and just that someone actually cares.”

Now, helped with funding from the Scottish Government and JP Morgan, MCR will provide internet accessand computers for up to 300 young people who live in households without access to the vital support network of the school and their mentors.

Working in partnership with local authorities and schools, MCR will extend its comprehensive virtual mentoring programme further across the country.

Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Aileen Campbell, said: “MCR Pathways provides crucial support for children and young people across Scotland so it’s fitting that we are able to provide this funding during Mental Health Awareness Week to allow them to continue to provide this support digitally during the current pandemic.

“We need to continue to support all of our children’s health and wellbeing, but even more so disadvantaged children, who often rely on school life for a safe, nurturing and supportive environment. This additional funding will enable more children and young people and their families to maintain the vital mentoring relationships that have been developed through the programme.”

Iain MacRitchie, founder of MCR Pathways, said: “Since the start of the lockdown, our team has worked tirelessly to maintain the crucial relationships between volunteer mentors and our young people.

“Sadly, lockdown has highlighted deep-rooted inequalities with some young people being unable to access the internet and do any school work from home. With schools to remain closed until after the summer, we needed to act now to prevent young people from feeling isolated and disconnected.

“We are delighted to have secured funding from the Scottish Government and JP Morgan to enable us to provide internet access and equipment for at least 300 young people. The strong relationships between our school staff and young people have enabled us to quickly identify those most in need, and to reconnect them with their mentors.

“This now marks the longest time young people have been absent from school and we have yet to quantify the impact on all sections of society. One-to-one support and the dedication of our committed teachers is desperately needed to limit the serious and significant challenges faced by our disadvantaged young people during lockdown. We simply cannot allow the attainment gap to widen even further.

“Our commitment to helping every care-experienced and disadvantaged young person in Scotland secure equal education and life chances, is stronger than ever. The impact of the virus on our young people is huge and every inequality is exacerbated, but it has also made us even more determined to do whatever it takes for each and every one of them.”

Hang Ho, head of Global Philanthropy, J.P. Morgan, said: “It’s more important than ever to support these young people. In the current environment, the internet is crucial for accessing learning and essential school resources.

“Ensuring young people stay connected to their mentors and continue to benefit from that relationship has never been more critical.”

The programme has received praise from mentors and young people for the range of virtual meeting options it has introduced to facilitate ongoing relationships.

MCR mentor Bernadine Blair recently had her first video call with her mentee whom she normally meets weekly at Bannerman High School, Glasgow. She said: “It was so good to catch up with my mentee.

“To me, it was like catching up with a friend that you haven’t seen for a while and was lovely! We discussed anything and everything.

“I think it is really important to continue face-to-face conversations during these strange and difficult times as there is more pressure on individuals, not only physically with social distancing, but mentally.”

Bernadine’s mentee was equally pleased at the opportunity to meet online: “Meeting by video chat was the best experience I could have had with my mentor, it was great chatting to someone from outside my family.”

At the core of the MCR programme are mentoring sessions between a young person and their mentor who is fully trained to listen and encourage a young person.

Building caring and trusting relationships is at the heart of the recent Care Review Recommendations and MCR mentoring is a highly effective way for this to be implemented.

An open letter to Government on young people’s mental health during lockdown

Over thirty charities and youth organisations have written a joint letter to the UK Government to tell them to limit the long-term impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health:

Dear Prime Minister, 

Covid-19: impact on children and young people’s mental health

We are writing to you to ask that your Government takes urgent steps to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on children and young people’s mental health – both now and in the future.

The Covid-19 pandemic is the biggest health crisis for generations, and the measures that the Government has taken to limit the spread of the virus, including restrictions on movement and the closure of schools to most students, are necessary to save lives.

However, the crisis is affecting many young people in ways that will risk long-term consequences for their mental health. One in eight children and young people already have a diagnosable mental health condition, and research suggests that the majority of those believe that the pressures created by the crisis are exacerbating their needs.

Many others – including those who have experienced bereavement, abuse or domestic violence – are also likely to require additional support. The fear of becoming ill or seeing a loved one become ill, the loss of routines, the difficulties of social connection, the impact of loneliness, the disruption to education and the challenges of living in difficult or dangerous situations are creating additional pressure for young people across the country.  Young people who belong to groups that are already marginalised or disadvantaged may be particularly at risk.

While mental health professionals deserve enormous credit for responding to the challenges the pandemic brings, many young people who were receiving some form of mental health treatment before the crisis are now receiving reduced support or no support at all. Other young people who would not previously have met the threshold for mental health support are likely to require it. Without preventative action, their needs are likely to escalate.

With the restrictions on access to schools, universities and primary care, there is often uncertainty or reticence about how and when to access mental health support. In many cases, young people have also lost the coping mechanisms that could help them to manage their mental health.

When it is safe for restrictions to change, there needs to be a clear plan about how to grow and develop services, how to enable social re-integration and how to support groups who are disproportionately affected by the crisis.

Before the pandemic, young people’s mental health was beginning to get the attention and resourcing it needs – but, despite improvements, services were often overstretched and inconsistent across the country. With demand likely to increase, we cannot afford to lose momentum.

We welcome the steps that the Government has already taken to prioritise mental health, including a £5 million fund for organisations providing mental health support, and guidance for parents issued through Public Health England.

However, this falls well short of meeting the scale of need. While many voluntary sector providers have been quick to adapt to the changing landscape – moving support online, and using innovative approaches to safe service delivery – there remain gaps in infrastructure and funding which threaten the long term sustainability of these efforts

That is why your Government must take a clear and coordinated approach to tackling the impact of the pandemic on children and young people, launching a recovery plan that enables the growth and continuity of support as restrictions change.

We are calling on your Government to:

  • Offer immediate emergency funding to increase young people’s and families’ access to mental health support through youth organisations charities and helplines; and ensure that clear routes are available for young people to access NHS mental health services while restrictions are in place.
  • Launch a national campaign to reach 10 million children and young people, and their families, to promote positive approaches for maintaining mental wellbeing, working alongside the voluntary sector to do so.
  • Deliver a wellbeing support package for schools, enabling them to prioritise wellbeing now and over the next academic year, and providing guidance and resources on how to manage transitions when it is safe for students to return to school.
  • Commit to introducing additional support for young people’s mental health as we move out of the pandemic to meet rising demand, including re-committing to the measures outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan in full and funding additional early intervention services.
  • Launch a cross-government strategy for young people’s mental health, taking a ‘young people’s wellbeing in all policies’ approach to future policy-making and addressing inequalities that can contribute towards worse mental health

We recognise the scale of the challenge that the Government is facing. However, by taking bold action now, you can reduce the impact of the pandemic and give hope to millions of children and young people across the country.

Find Out More About Beyond Tomorrow

Yours sincerely,

Emma Thomas, Chief Executive, YoungMinds

Professor Peter Fonagy, Chief Executive, The Anna Freud Centre

Kate Fallon, General Secretary, Association of Educational Psychologists

Kathy Roberts, CEO, Association of Mental Health Providers

Natalie Bailey, Chair, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

Javed Khan, CEO, Barnardo’s

Dr Ruth Allen, CEO, British Association of Social Workers

Andrew Radford, Chief Executive, BEAT

Sarb Bajwa, Chief Executive, British Psychological Society

Amanda Chetwynd-Cowieson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, British Youth Council

Sarah Hughes, CEO, Centre for Mental Health

Sir Norman Lamb, Chair, Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition

Kathy Evans, CEO, Children England

Mark Russell, Chief Executive, The Children’s Society

Angela Salt, CEO, Girlguiding

Advocate Youth Panel, Girlguiding

Katie Ghose, Chief Executive Officer, KIDS

Hamish Elvidge, Chair, The Matthew Elvidge Trust

Mark Rowland, Chief Executive, Mental Health Foundation

Paul Farmer CBE, Chief Executive, Mind

Chris Martin, Chief Executive, The Mix

Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive, National Children’s Bureau

Paul Whiteman, General Secretary, NAHT

Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive, The National Autistic Society

Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary, National Education Union

Leigh Middleton, Chief Executive, National Youth Agency

Catherine Roche, Chief Executive, Place2Be

Professor Russell Viner, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Professor Wendy Burn, President, Royal College of Psychiatrists

Duncan Stephenson, Deputy Chief Executive, Royal Society of Public Health

Ruth Sutherland, CEO, Samaritans

Schools Wellbeing Partnership

Dr Rania Marandos , Chief Executive, Step up to Serve

Ndidi Okezie, CEO, UK Youth

Denise Hatton, CEO, YMCA England & Wales

Barry Williams, Chief Executive, Youth Access

Young workers hardest hit by coronavirus downturn

Over one in three 18-24 year olds, and three in ten workers in their early 60s, are receiving less pay than they did at the start of the year, compared to less than a quarter of workers aged 35-49, according to new Resolution Foundation published today.

The report is published on the day it was announced that UK unemployment rose by 50,000 to 1.35 million in the three months to March, when the effects of the coronavirus lockdown started to affect the economy.

The report, Young workers in the coronavirus crisis, based on a survey of 6,005 UK adults in early May and supported by the Health Foundation, examines how the current crisis has already affected workers of different ages in terms of their jobs, pay, hours and working conditions. It is published ahead of official labour market data today covering the three months to March this year (and only the very start of the crisis).

Previous Resolution Foundation research has shown that excluding students, young people  tend to be hit hardest during downturns, and are particularly at risk in the current one as they are more likely to work in the hardest hit sectors of the economy, such as hospitality, leisure and retail.

Looking at workers’ current earnings compared to the start of the year, the research finds that employees across all age groups are more likely to be earning less than they did in January than earning more, though young and older workers are most affected.

Among 18-24 year olds, 35 per cent are earning less than they did  before the outbreak, and 13 per cent are earning more. Employees in their early 60s are the next most likely to be receiving less pay (30 per cent), with a further 9 per cent receiving more pay. By contrast, 23 per cent of 35-49 year olds are earning less, while 5 per cent are earning more.

The research shows that young people are also the most likely to have lost work – though other age groups have been affected.

One in three 18-24 year olds employees have lost work, either through being furloughed (23 per cent) or losing their jobs completely (9 per cent).

One in five (20 per cent) employees in their late 20s (aged 25-29) have either been furloughed or lost their jobs, along with around one in six (18 per cent) workers in their early 60s (aged 60-64).

Employees aged 35-44 are the least likely to have been furloughed or lost their jobs, with around 15 per cent experiencing this since the crisis began.

The Foundation says the big pay reductions and job losses for young and older employees are a huge concern, for very different reasons.

Younger workers deeply affected by the crisis today risk have their pay scarred for years to come – causing a long-term reduction in their living standards. Older workers risk being involuntary retired well before reaching their State Pension Age, or not having time to make-up their current earnings shortfall. Both risks could cause a permanent hit to their incomes through retirement.

The Foundation says that the scale of pay reductions since the crisis began would be even greater where it not for the Job Retention Scheme. The research finds around one in five furloughed employees are still receiving full pay (despite state support being capped at 80 per cent), including over a quarter of workers aged 35-44.

Finally, the Foundation says that the Government needs to start preparing its response to the next phase of the crisis, which should include policies such as Job Guarantees for young people, and broader fiscal stimulus to boost demand in the economy and raise household incomes.

Maja Gustafsson, Researcher at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Our research confirms fears that young people are being hardest in the current crisis. One in three young people have been furloughed or lost their jobs completely, and over one in three had had their pay reduced since the crisis started.

“But while young people are in the eye of the storm, they are not the only group who are experiencing big income shocks. Britain is experiencing a U-shaped living standards crisis, with workers in their early 60s also badly affected.

“That is why the Government’s strategy to support the recovery should combine targeted support to help young people into work, with more general stimulus to boost demand across the economy and help households of all ages.”

Report: Young-workers-in-the-coronavirus-crisis

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the UK soared to 2.1 million in April, the first full month of the coronavirus lockdown. 

The April total rose by 856,500, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.

Before the lockdown began, employment had already hit a record high before the lockdown began.

The situation is actually even worse than these desperate figures show – benefit claimant count does not include everyone who is out of work, since not all can claim assistance.

Girlguiding Scotland launches Guiding at Hame challenge

To support young people and their parents while at home, Girlguiding Scotland, the leading charity for girls and young women, has launched the ‘Guiding at Hame’ challenge – a weekly online challenge with activities for children and adults alike to get stuck into.

With face to face meetings no longer taking place, Girlguiding Scotland is delivering its unique programme in new and innovative ways. They issued a challenge on 1 May, with activities suitable for anyone from age 5 and up. New activities are released every Friday, and the whole challenge reflects the six themes of Girlguiding’s programme: Know Myself, Express Myself, Be Well, Have Adventures, Take Action and Skills For My Future. In true guiding style, anyone who takes part in the challenge can earn the ‘Guiding at Hame’ badge.

The challenge is open to everyone – you don’t need to be a member – just download the activities from Girlguiding Scotland’s website to take part. This is a great way to give guiding a go and get a taster of what’s on offer.

Scottish Chief Commissioner, Moira McKenna, said: “Girlguiding Scotland is a resilient community and we want to support as many children and young people across Scotland right now with our new Guiding at Hame challenge.

“Our programme is all about empowering girls and young women to try new things, care for those in their communities and have fun outside of school. None of this could happen without our amazing volunteers and we want to say a big thanks to them for keeping guiding going during this challenging time.

“It’s everyday folk who are working hard to make sure that families are supported and we hope that those taking part in the activities will be inspired to join our guiding community in the future.”

The challenge can be found on Girlguiding Scotland’s website in the new ‘Guiding at Hame’ hub with advice on how to move to virtual guiding meetings and blogs on wellbeing and resilience resources for children and young people.

Girlguiding Scotland is encouraging anyone who takes part in the challenge to tag them on social media @GirlguidingScot.

The activities can also be done with Girlguiding units. Already, many Girlguiding Scotland volunteers have been delivering virtual guiding with girls, running their weekly meetings using technology like Zoom and Whatsapp.

Girlguiding is open to all girls aged 5 to 18, giving them the opportunity to explore new interests and build their confidence.

For more information visit www.girlguidingscotland.org.uk.

Heart Research UK Healthy Tip – Physical activity for children and young people

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Physical activity for children and young people while staying at home

Regular physical activity in children and young people is associated with improved learning, better mental health, healthier weight status and better cardiovascular fitness.

At a time when the population is being asked to stay at home, finding ways to keep children physically active can be challenging. Heart Research UK have some tips to help children and young people meet the recommended amount of physical activity while staying at home.

How much physical activity is recommended?

The Government recommends that children and young people aged 5 to 18 years engage in two types of physical activity every week: aerobic exercises and activities that strengthen muscles and bones. Children and young people should aim to do at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.

Aerobic Exercises

Your heart will beat faster, you will breathe harder, you will get warmer and you can probably maintain a conversation

E.g. Brisk Walking, running, cycling, skateboarding or riding a scooter

Activities to strengthen muscles and bones

E.g. Skipping, sit-ups, press-ups, dance & games such as tug-of-war

Avoid too much time sitting in front of a screen

It is common for children and young people to spend too much time sitting in front of a screen. Why not limit this to a set amount of time each day/week and schedule in some time for getting active and away from the screen.

Make physical activity fun with

Look online for inspiration for getting kids and young people active and having some fun. Change 4 Life provide some good tips https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/activities/indoor-activities and there are also some online Physical Activity coaches who run free online sessions for kids.

Work out together

Try exercising as a family as this can be motivating for children and young people. Going for a family bike ride/walk or dancing around the house to your favourite songs can be a fun way to get moving together. You could also inspire others by posting videos of your activities on social media.

Youth Awards for city projects

Youth Work in Edinburgh has been celebrated with four national awards for the capital’s youth work.

Caitlin McKinnon, of The Fruit market Gallery picked up the National Youth Participation Award. She has been the driving force behind the development of Fresh Fruit, a collaboration of young people and artists exploring new ideas through innovative exhibitions. It is the only project of its kind in Edinburgh and is an exemplar in Scotland.

Caitlin has partnered with young people to review and reshape the programme, creating a safe space for co-production and informal learning. Participants were paired with prominent artist Jacqueline Donachie and tasked with programming three annual exhibition events at the gallery, each attracting up to 300 people. In 2019, these events were extended beyond the youth programme to be part of the galleries main programme.

Speaking after receiving her award, Caitlin said: “Creative opportunities with and for young people at The Fruitmarket Gallery are relevant and engaging because they are led by young people.

“Their voices are essential to shaping the right opportunities and structure for the Fresh Fruit programme that enables them to take the lead in a supported way, working alongside artists and staff.

I’m proud to win the Youth Participation and Voice award and see it as a joint win with Fresh Fruit, as recognition of the work we do together. It’s so great to be part of the awards as an art gallery with a youth programme among so many fantastic organisations working with young people.

“I’m looking forward to the next phase of Fresh Fruit as we build on our long term partnerships with youth and community organisations in Edinburgh to give young people access to creative skills development and the confidence and sense of wellbeing that arts experiences bring.”

Fresh Fruit participant Tosia Bargielowska Johnsen said: “My biggest surprise was how willing Caitlin and the gallery was to push forward strong but risky ideas, rather than resorting to safer yet less challenging solutions.

“I genuinely felt as if we were co-producing, rather than just passing on the crayons.”

Local project Scran Academy was runner-up for the National Attainment and Skills Award, for the work experience opportunities given to young people.

Scran Academy, based at Fel-Lor Youth Centre, is a social enterprise that not only tastes good, it does good! Young people gain first-hand work experience in a dynamic food and drink social start-up, helping them actively shape their own learner journey.

Scran Academy supports the most vulnerable to transition beyond the classroom into the workplace and wider life. Its recipe for success is to focus on what young people can do, not what they don’t have. The result of this approach is that young people feel listened to and empowered to make positive decisions in their own lives.

One care experienced young person, now 16, said: “I am now a scaffolder, my dream job! I’ve learned I’m a really hard worker but I didn’t know that until Scran, it has changed me and I want to say thank you for being there for me.

“For the future, all I want is a nice house with a family; a year ago I wasn’t thinking about these things, but now I can.”

Youth Development Coordinator Charlie Johnson said: “Scran Academy enabled me to do many different things and gave me a chance to work hard.

“I’ve had a few blips along the way and not always been an angel, but Scran gave me the chance to overcome my issues and prove myself. I learned that I am a really hard worker and since then, I’ve kept going and not stopped grafting.

“Scran felt more like a family. It has been so great for my personal and skills development. Since leaving Scran, things have been great. They helped me with my employability, CV and even helped me get a paid job as a trainee youth worker.

“I still love my job now and continuing to grow and mature – and I am also now doing my Diploma.”

Khaleda Noon was a finalist for Inspirational Leader of the Year for her work with intercultural young people in Edinburgh.

“This is a movement.” That is the statement on the IYS website, and a fitting testament to the youth work leader Khaleda Noon is. She set up, developed and delivered Intercultural Youth Scotland with a culture of co-creation and co-leadership, with young people embedded in its DNA from the very beginning.

During Khaleda’s time working on BAME projects at Action for Children, she became convinced of the power of culture – specifically music, dance and spoken word – to make a positive impact on the lives of intercultural young people in Edinburgh.

As she developed this idea, she took the courageous decision to leave her job and devote countless unpaid hours to grow IYS into what it is today.

Her determination, drive and energy has taken IYS from an idea to an active charity within 18 months, with successful funding bids enabling her to employ youth workers and find a permanent base for the organisation.

Board Member Katrina Castle said: “Khaleda encapsulates the essence of inspirational leadership. Her idea, to enable young, intercultural voices to be heard, by providing specialised services to nurture talent and create social impact has become a thriving, effective reality – Intercultural Youth Scotland.

“IYS has been successful in such a short period of time because Khaleda creates a culture of trust and belief, ensuring the needs, opinions and interests of young people are at the heart of everything, while enabling them to develop the tools and confidence to express their ideas, deliver their vision and drive the work of IYS forward.”

And runner-up for National Youth Work Team of the Year is The Yard Fun & Friendship Club.

The project plays  is a vital part of any child’s personal and social development, but with mainstream services often difficult to access for children and young people with disabilities, opportunities to socialise with peers can be hard to come by.

This is where The Yard comes in, providing specialist fun and friendship clubs where disabled young people can come together in a supported environment.

The Yard has successfully developed inclusive programmes to increase the social, emotional and practical life skills of the children involved, allowing the young people to build positive mental wellbeing, self-esteem and confidence through new, exciting activities.

Having fine-tuned its model, The Yard has now developed a toolkit to enable it to upskill groups and local authorities to spread its model across Scotland.

The Yard currently delivers respite clubs for around 2000 disabled children across three clubs in Edinburgh, plus two smaller centres in Dundee and Fife.

Celine Sinclair, Chief Executive at the Yard, said: “We are delighted to be runner-up for Team of the Year at the 13th National Youth Work Awards. At The Yard, our success is largely due to our talented team of trained and experienced specialist play workers who inspire, guide and support the children who come to play.

“They are also a source of advice and support for the whole family. Our play team work very closely with the young people we support through our fun and friendship clubs for teens, ensuring that being part of a club at The Yard is a great, inclusive and fun experience for each individual.”

Commenting, Tim Frew, CEO of YouthLink Scotland said: “Youth work is one of our great national assets. The National Youth Work Awards are in their 13th year and it’s clear our sector makes a significant difference to the life chances and opportunities of young people across Scotland.

“These awards showcase our impact because without youth work, the landscape of our society would be much changed and not for the better. These projects in Edinburgh are a great example of how youth work invests in this and future generations of young people. So let’s take our message out there that now is the time to #InvestInYouthWork.”

The National Youth Work Awards 2020 are all about celebrating the power of incredible youth work and the vital role of Scotland’s 70,000 youth work volunteers and staff in the lives of our young people.

This national event is co-designed with young people, who have been involved in the judging and the planning of the night.

The Awards dinner took place on Wednesday 12 March 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow, hosted by BAFTA award winning actress, Jane McCarry, aka ‘Isa’ from Still Game.

Speaking after the Awards, John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills said: “It is fantastic that so many individuals and groups are being recognised in the 13th National Youth Awards for their excellent work to invest in both current and future generations of young people.

“Youth work plays a vital role in expanding young people’s experiences and supporting them to achieve their potential. These awards show how by reaching out and, in many cases, providing a lifeline to so many young people can enhance their opportunities and help them become confident individuals and effective contributors.”

 

GRAHAM supports Women Into Construction initiative

Young women from across Central Scotland participating in the ‘Women into Construction’ programme have completed a three-day course to build a wind turbine, facilitated by leading contractor GRAHAM.

‘Women into Construction’ has been devised by Action for Children to encourage more females into the construction industry, where women currently only account for 14% of the workforce.

GRAHAM is a lead partner of the initiative and arranged for the group of young women to take part in the wind turbine project with ConStructEd Scotland at Sibbald’s training facility at Blackridge, to further develop their learning and gain practical, real life construction experience.

The hands-on course has seen the group manage all aspects of the wind turbine construction project from the ground up. Working outdoors in the elements, the team have built formwork, tested and poured concrete before erecting the turbine mast and assembling the electrics to generate power.

Each stage of construction has involved learning and using a variety of materials, tools and skills which can be put to good use in the working world when the programme ends.

Across the duration of the seven-week training programme, the young women from Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian will learn about various sectors of the construction industry; each aspiring to secure an apprenticeship in their chosen field after they graduate from the course in May.

Suzanne Stevenson, Social Impact Advisor for GRAHAM said: “There is a significant gender imbalance in the construction sector, so initiatives like ‘Women into Construction’ provide a strong platform to show just how rewarding and varied a career in construction can be.

“As a company, GRAHAM looks to provide as many opportunities as possible to the younger generation, including apprenticeship schemes and funding further education. It’s been a pleasure to watch the young women progress throughout the course and we look forward to supporting them in their futures where possible.”

Charlie Douglas, 16, from Bonnyrigg, a participant on the ‘Women into Construction’ programme said: “The ‘Women into Construction’ programme has been a brilliant experience and opportunity for me.

“I grew up watching my dad and brother work in construction and I’ve loved being able to train in the same field, as part of an all-female group. The course has made me feel far more comfortable and confident as everyone is in the same position, learning the basics together.

“The wind turbine project was a great way to get some hands-on experience and now I’d really like to take this further and explore a career in the construction industry.”

GRAHAM is a member of the “5% Club”, an organisation consisting of companies committed to ensuring 5% of their workforce over the next five years is comprised of young people on structured learning schemes.

Those interested in applying for an apprenticeship with GRAHAM in Scotland are encouraged to send a CV and covering letter to: Glasgow.GrahamAcademy@graham.co.u

Children’s mental health services ‘creaking at the seams’

  • The NHS in Scotland failed to meet a maximum 18-week waiting time target for children and young people to receive treatment from mental health services
  • More than a third are waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.
  • 11 out of 14 health boards, including NHS Lothian, failed to meet the 18-week waiting time target.
  • 272 children and young people waited more than a year prior to being seen
  • Coalition calls for fundamental rethink and renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, including embedding mental health within education.

Latest waiting time figures have reinforced the call by a coalition of leading independent and third sector children and young people’s service providers for dramatically increased investment in mental health services in the budget to address the current mental health crisis.

It has also called for an urgent need for transformational change in services, focusing on prevention and early intervention in order to tackle what is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time.

The call from the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), which campaigns to improve services for vulnerable children and young people, comes as the latest waiting time figures from the Information Services Division, part of NHS National Services Scotland, highlight that thousands of children and young people are failing to treated within a Scottish Government waiting time target.  

With an increasing number of children and young people being identified with mental health problems they also highlight a postcode lottery for mental health treatment across the country.

Covering the quarter October to December 2019, the figures highlight that 3,884 children and young people started treatment at specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in this period.

The NHS in Scotland, including 11 of the 14 regional health boards, failed to meet the Scottish Government 18-week waiting time target for children and young people to receive treatment from CAMHS. This target should be delivered for at least 90 per cent of patients.

While 66.4 per cent in the NHS in Scotland are being seen within this 18-week waiting time, still in itself far too long, more than a third (33.6 per cent) are failing to be seen within this period.

Individual health boards failing to meet this target are: NHS Fife (66.1 per cent), NHS Ayrshire & Arran (89.9 per cent), NHS Grampian (80.1 per cent), NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (68.9 per cent), NHS Highland (75.2 per cent), NHS Lanarkshire (57.8 per cent), NHS Lothian (48.4 per cent), NHS Tayside (57.4 per cent), NHS Dumfries & Galloway (88.6 per cent), NHS Shetland and NHS Forth Valley (57.7 per cent).

The figures also indicate that 272 children and young people in the October to December quarter had been waiting for more than a year prior to being seen for treatment, an increase from 204 in the previous quarter and a considerable increase from the  same quarter of last year (108).

Mental health services are creaking at the seams due to greatly increasing demand, as evidenced by these waiting time figures. Research indicates that 10 per cent of children and young people (aged five to 16) has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem (around three in every classroom), with 50 per cent of mental health problems established by the age of 14 and 75 per cent by the age of 24.

While acknowledging the great efforts the Scottish Government is making, such as an additional £250 million of funding announced in the Programme for Government of 2018, the SCSC has called for the Scottish Government to greatly increased investment in CAMHS and for a more consistent approach to delivering these services across Scotland. 3

It has also called for a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention for those with mental health problem, reducing the need for referral to under-pressure specialist CAMHS.

This includes embedding mental health within education from an early age in order to strengthen knowledge and awareness of mental health, as well as reducing the stigma associated with mental health.

SCSC says emotion and resilience classes should be provided to all students from primary one to teach students how to work through their emotions in a healthy way and there should be a whole-school approach, with training for all staff involved in education and providing counselling support.

A spokesperson for the SCSC said: “These latest waiting time figures highlight that we desperately need increased investment in the forthcoming budget to address this situation. The simple fact is that we are continuing to fail thousands of children and young people with mental health problems, and more clearly needs to be done to address this epidemic.

“These newly released figures highlight that the NHS in Scotland, including eleven of our health boards, are failing to meet what is already a lengthy waiting time. Yet we know that three children in every classroom has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem.

“There must be a radical transformation of our mental health services, with a focus on preventing such problems arising in the first place and intervening early, especially when we know that half of all mental health problems begin before the age of 14.  This includes embedding mental health within education from an early age as well as providing training for all staff involved in education.

“With mental health and the issues associated with it representing one of the greatest public health challenges of our time, we must ensure that children and young people are able to get the care and support they need, when they need it. This includes investing in greater community support and support at school, reducing the need for referral to specialist CAMHS.”

One in three young people in the Lothians are waiting over a year for mental health support.

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative Lothian MSP, said: “It is deeply concerning that we are now in a situation where over a third of young people referred for mental health support in NHS Lothian are having to wait over a year.

“SNP Ministers have allowed us to reach crisis point by not properly managing NHS Lothian’s workforce and must take responsibility for neglecting to take action over the mental health crisis amongst young people.

“These figures show just how urgently we need an additional 40 whole time equivalent mental health professionals in NHS Lothian.”