Aileen Cambell opens Opening Doors!

Youth Scotland kicked off its 80^th anniversary celebrations with ‘Opening Doors’, an event showcasing the achievements of young people, at the Edinburgh Airport Hilton Hotel last Saturday (2 November).

The interactive event, themed around the opportunities created for young people through youth work, included performances and showcased the projects that Youth Scotland currently delivers to young people across the country.

Around a hundred people attended the Opening Doors event, which featured a keynote speech from Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People, a rousing choir performance from the BIG Youth Project, and a terrific dance routine performed by Kic Dance on the theme of “opening doors”.

As well as performances from young people, a marketplace showcased the range of projects and opportunities that Youth Scotland offers. Projects that are opening doors for young people include Bike Club, Girls on the Move, Stand Up To Sectarianism, Dynamic Youth Awards and Youth Achievement Awards.Ian McLaughlan, Chief Executive of Youth Scotland, said: “As Youth Scotland enters its eightieth year, we felt it was important to highlight some of the amazing achievements of Scotland’s young people. The Opening Doors event has shown just how diverse a membership Youth Scotland has, with small rural youth groups all the way to large, well established urban projects all working together to reach the common goal of creating opportunities for young people and giving them the best start in life.

There is no doubt that today there are many challenges to face, but Youth Scotland is working hard to open doors for young people and we look forward to another 80 years of positive youthwork.”

Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People, said: “Opening Doors is a great title for Youth Scotland’s 80^th Anniversary celebrations and an important opportunity to recognise and showcase young people’s amazing achievements and contributions.

“The theme of Opening Doors reflects all that Youth Scotland and its members are doing to deliver innovative and meaningful youth work programmes that open up positive opportunities for young people across Scotland.

“With its membership of over 1,200 groups, working with more than 60,000 young people, Youth Scotland’s network is making a significant contribution towards improving life chances and wellbeing.”