Granton Youth’s AGM

Granton Youth held its virtual AGM this week for its members and invited guests. Apart from the usual administration process of electing its volunteer board members those present heard about the work that the organisation did over the past year as well as a look ahead.

Mary Q-Burnside, Manager of GY, said in her report: ‘The year 22/23 was the first year following the pandemic when we were free to operate with full complement of staff and put the focus and vision of the GY strategy fully into practice – which is to provide holistic support to work with young people and their families.

‘GY has created a multi-support network and programme that can make a real difference to young people’s lives – by being where they are: in their streets, school, at our base within RWCC and within the family home.’

Mary highlighted there was a growing demand following pandemic and exacerbated by cost of living crisis means services are at capacity.

As part of GY strategy it has been recognised what we do well and ask young people and their families what they need and want.

In order to make this happen we have developed valuable and supportive collaborations through:

  • Community Mental Health fund partnership – Bwell together
  • North Edinburgh Youth Work collaborative – supporting youth work apprentices
  • Single Point Access pilot in North Edinburgh – working with NHS, Social Work and schools to ensure the right targeted support is identified for local families and young people

Despite the challenges in finding funding GY continues to be successful in sustaining its funding in an ever more competitive market.

Currently GY provides:

  • Open access youth work – a safe space to explore learning, creativity and be heard
  • Targeted youth work for nuerodivergent/isolated young people
  • Music – employing professional tutors so young people can learn to play, write their own songs and record and release them as well as being given and opportunity to play live with some of our musicians playing venues such as King Tuts and La Belle Angelle
  • Families Together – working with families to identify areas where support is required and providing tailored programmes to meet their needs
  • Volunteering – offering local people an opportunity to volunteer and receive accredited learning and have access to a paid apprenticeship in youth work
  • Mentoring- delivering 1:1 for young people requiring additional support, targeted at those who may be socially isolated or who are  at risk of antisocial behaviour
  • Streetwork – working to engage young people who are not engaging in mainstream youth work services and or education. Meeting them in the local area and on their terms
  • Counselling – GY has a centre based counselling service for local young people and adults as well as counselling presence across 6 high schools in North West Edinburgh
  • Positive Activities programme is part of our open access youth work but also with offers a targeted programme to engage physically inactive/socially isolated or those engaged in risk-taking behaviour
  • Schools based youth work – supporting young people by providing 1:1 youth work mentoring to sustain attendance and improve attainment

Dave Macnab, Chair of GY, said: “All of this happens because we have developed a dedicated staff team who are experienced, skilled and enthusiastic about the work they do and the difference they make.

“It is heartening to see that 10 of our team of 21 are from the local area and that 6 of the core team started as volunteers at GY.

“In fact, in the last two years GY has employed five young people who are the product of the volunteer apprentice scheme”.

GY reaches around 500 young people and adults per year through its various provisions and demand is ever increasing as our word of mouth reputation and positive profile grow. 

If you want to know more about the work of GY contact Mary@grantonyouth.com

CashBack supports 28,000 young people over last year

Criminals’ ill-gotten gains re-directed to support young people to make positive choices 

A unique programme funded from seized criminal assets has helped to provide new opportunities for more than 28,000 young people in the past year.

CashBack for Communities used £19 million recovered from criminal activity to support 24 organisations during Phase 5 of the programme, which ran from April 2020 to March 2023, to support young people, including those who may be at risk from being drawn into antisocial behaviour or criminality.

Projects supported included the Vow Project, run in partnership with Police Scotland, which uses peer mentors with experience of the criminal justice system to support young people to break the cycle of criminality and offending.

The Access to Industry project, which provides employability support to young people in HM Prison and Young Offenders Institution (YOI) Polmont, and Action for Children who support young people at risk of involvement in offending or antisocial behaviour, were also supported through CashBack.

A new evaluation of activity support in 2022-23, has found that of the young people who took part in projects:

  • 75% reported an improvement in their wellbeing
  • 75% reported an increase in their confidence
  • 59% gained new jobs, skills or qualifications

Since its inception, Cashback for Communities has committed up to £130 million to fund a range of projects, delivering more than 2.5 million activities and supporting around 1.3 million young people across Scotland.

Community Justice Minister Siobhian Brown said: “The success of the Cashback for Communities projects show what can be achieved when young people are given the right opportunities.

“It is important that we support and encourage young people to make choices that allow them to develop their aspirations and potential.

“CashBack for Communities is a valued programme that everyone involved should be rightly proud of.  I am grateful to all those who have helped to make the past three years such a success, and supported so many young people in such a positive way, particularly in a period impacted by COVID-19.

“For the past 15 years, Cashback has helped well over a million  young people across the country to find better futures.

“This unique initiative underlines our commitment to support all of Scotland’s young people to live full, healthy lives and to help address some of the underlying causes of crime and antisocial behaviour.”

Read the impact report 

Out of the Blue helps support Leith’s young people make the transition to high school

  • Now in it’s third year P.A.L.S! Summer scheme has helped support over 100 young people make the transition from primary to secondary school
  • A collaboration between three youth arts organisations based at the Drill Hall
  • P.A.L.S! returns to the Out of the Blue Drill Hall from Monday 24th to Friday 28th July

 Monday 24th to Friday 28th July sees the third P.A.L.S (Play and Learn Stuff!) Summer Scheme return to the Out of the Blue Drill Hall!

Started initially as a response to the pandemic, the scheme was designed to help young people get back outdoors, off their screens and enjoying new experiences within a safe and supportive environment. 

Specifically targetting children aged 11 – 13 in the Leith area, the free scheme provides a circuit breaker from technology, a chance to re-engage with others and participate in the arts.

Since its inception, the P.A.L.S Summer Scheme has helped over 100 children learn new skills and gain confidence prior to starting secondary school.

First established in 2021, it’s a collaboration between three youth arts organisations, all based in the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith: Out of the BlueprintStrange Town Youth Theatre and All or Nothing.

As in previous years, the three partner organisations will deliver a free activity based on their specialist art form.

The scheme has evolved since its inception and following feedback from parents and children. After taking part in the scheme many parents recognised increased confidence and resilience in their child in preparation for moving to high school.

Feedback from children (2021 & 2022)

“I learnt how to use the printer. I learnt how to be a better actor. I learnt how to be more creative and not hesitate to try new things! Thank you!”
“Was I nervous about coming along? Obviously! The three new things I learnt this week was how to get on a hoop, how to make new friends and how to get up high by spinning in a cocoon!”
“The best bit was doing things I haven’t done before”
Feedback from parents (2021 & 2022)

We were so impressed by the whole experience (name) had. Thank you!”
“My husband and I were delighted (name) attended all week because she loved the activities and managed to chat to people she didn’t know. The experience helped increase (her) confidence and independence.”
“Please do something similar! It really built her confidence that she tried something new.”

Project Manager, Johnny Gailey, says: “We initially started the scheme as a way to support young folk who had missed out on transition activities that helped them make the step up to big school due to Covid.

“We’re very proud that it’s now part of our annual summer offer of activities for children in the area.  Whilst the pandemic is over, this generation continues to feel the long tail of Covid and it’s effects and we believe activities that support the development of their social skills and confidence will stand them in good stead as they progress to high school.” 

The P.A.L.S! Summer Scheme takes place at the Drill Hall from Monday 24th to Friday 28th July. Further details can be found on the Out of the Blue website.

Scotland to launch world’s first rural youth dedicated Smart Village

The Scotland-based Rural Youth Project is calling young people to join a focus group to help develop a pioneering “world first” youth-centric Smart Village which will champion young people to collaboratively build vibrant, creative, and sustainable rural economies in the places they call home. 

Smart Villages, a concept driven by the European Network for Rural Development, are rural digital ‘villages’ that combine physical and digital communities to improve their resilience, building on local strengths and opportunities.

Smart Village Scotland have partnered with the Rural Youth Project, to create the Rural Youth Project Smart Village which will be a super connected community that will function as a space for young people to connect, to build or expand their enterprise and leadership skills and to trade. 

Co-Founders and Directors of the Rural Youth Project, Jane Craigie and Rebecca Dawes, said: “The Rural Youth Project Smart Village is an opportunity to provide a digital place that really benefits young people in many aspects of their rural lives.

“We are particularly excited about the marketplace where young people can sell products and services, as a buyer from Smart Village ‘shops’ you will know that for every pound you spend, that you will be supporting a Scottish young person and investing back into their local rural community. 

 “It will also be a space for young people to network and form mentoring relationships with their peers and, also older business and community leaders, while also having access to learning resources to support them in building a vibrant, creative and sustainable rural economy in Scotland.

“With other Smart Villages in development across Scotland, this will be the first dedicated rural youth Smart Village in the world thus is certain to attract both European and international partners as it establishes.”

Ashely Petrie from Smart Village Scotland said, “The Rural Youth Project Smart Village will be strategically designed to solve the big challenges faced by young people at local and national levels, it’s exciting to partner with the Rural Youth Project and LEADER to deliver this project.

“With an aim to launch the Rural Youth Project Smart Village in Winter 2020, young people are urged to come forward to join a focus group being held on 10 September to help shape the platform to ensure that is what young people want and need. Those wishing to register to attend can do so by contacting the Rural Youth Project.”

Chair of Rural Perth and Kinross LEADER Programme and Chief Executive of Growbiz Scotland, Jackie Brierton, said: “The Rural Youth Project received £191,170 support from the LEADER Programme 2014-2020The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.  

“The funding comes from 5 regions in Scotland.  We’re therefore delighted that a vibrant Smart Village community, built for and by young people, is being developed to support our five LEADER areas; Angus, Lanarkshire, Outer Hebrides, Rural Perth and Kinross and the Scottish Borders, which will leave a lasting legacy for those rural young people and communities.

“Smart Villages are being developed to support a number of communities in Scotland and Europe.  A dedicated one for young people is essential to enable them to connect, have a voice, share ideas, engage with relevant entrepreneurs and community leaders to help them to address challenges where they want to live, study and work.

“Covid19 has brought young people and communities many additional challenges and this is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get involved and develop new skills to be part of shaping the future for their community.  The next phase of a longer-term programme to reach out to all areas of Scotland and enable all young people to participate and become the next generation of rural leaders.”

Young people interested in attending the focus group on 10 September can register via the Eventbrite link here.

STV Appeal support for Youth Vision’s Back on Track

Community project, Back on Track, by charity Youth Vision in Edinburgh, has received £1,000 from the STV Children’s Appeal, boosting support for the local project.

Youth Vision works with children and young people from South West Edinburgh, offering a range of nature based informal education services that aim to develop confidence and self-esteem to support a healthy transition to adulthood. Back on Track is a support and learning programme for young people aged 14-16 who are not attaining in school, attending education, or engaged in employment. The programme provides a range of nature based activities and life skills that aim to support the personal and social development of young people and improve their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. The programme also includes an element of family support and community days meaning parents or carers are directly involved with the programme.

Claudia Goncalves, co-founder and chairperson of Youth Vision, said: “On behalf of the young people who benefit from our services I would like to thank the STV Children’s Appeal. The £1,000 we received will support young people aged 14 to 16 who really need our charity’s guidance and support to get back on track.”

Since launching in 2011, the STV Children’s Appeal has raised over £13.7 million, with 722 big and small grants distributed to projects across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, providing much needed support to over 62,000 children. The money raised is distributed to provide practical help like food and warm clothes; create opportunities for training and employability; and enable social and emotional support for those who need it most.

Rob Woodward, STV CEO and trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “The STV Children’s Appeal was established to help improve the quality of life of vulnerable children and young people across Scotland. We are extremely grateful to everyone that has fundraised and donated to this year’s STV Children’s Appeal. All proceeds remain in Scotland which means we can support vital projects such as Back on Track in our efforts to improve the lives of children across the community. A special thanks to everyone for their ongoing support and acts of generosity for such an important cause.”

Sir Tom Hunter, trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “It’s charities like Youth Vision that can make the world of a difference to those young people most in need. From the bottom of my heart I thank everyone who raised money for the STV Children’s Appeal and can again confirm to every last one of you that every pound you gave is being invested in charities like Youth Vision to the benefit of Scotland’s young people. You raise a pound we give a pound, simple.”

Sir Ian Wood, trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “It remains deeply concerning that child poverty continues to impact so many lives across our country with over 200,000 children and young people in Scotland now affected.  As a consequence the work carried out by the STV Children’s Appeal in providing support, help and opportunities for those who most need it has become even more significant.  Such a divide between the have and have-nots on our own doorstep is totally unacceptable.  However I am always heartened by the support and generosity of the people across Scotland who enable The STV Children’s Appeal to carry out such vital work.  We all must play our part, no matter how large or small, in reducing these shocking statistics.”

Lorraine Kelly, presenter and STV Children’s Appeal trustee, has announced the STV Children’s Appeal 2016 has raised £2,568,369 for children and young people living in poverty in Scotland, with an exciting line-up of fundraising activities planned for 2017.

If you’re an individual or group that would like to help raise funds for children and young people living in poverty in Scotland with the STV Children’s Appeal, please get in touch with Natalie Wright at natalie.wright@stv.tv.