Year of Young People funding for three city youth projects

Three youth work organisations have been awarded almost £6,000 to co-design events with young people in 2018.

Leonard Cheshire Disability Scotland runs ‘Can Do Scotland’, a unique community-based volunteering project enabling young disabled people aged 10-25 to get involved in new experiences. The funding of £2,000 from the Year of Young People 2018 Youth Community Action Fund will enable 60 young disabled people to take part in volunteering sessions in Edinburgh, providing a platform to explore personal interests, social development, training and life-skills, whilst enabling them to participate and engage with their local communities. Sessions will include photography, arts and crafts, and gardening.

The newly formed North East Edinburgh Youth Forum was awarded £1,882 to train young community ambassadors to act as peer promoters in their local area. 12 youngsters will be involved in a residential training weekend, where they will receive training in digital marketing and research skills.

Jack Kane Community Centre based in Craigmillar received £1,994 to challenge negative perceptions of young people within the wider community. The project, led by young people, will use art, photography and the written word to showcase the positive contribution young people make to life in Edinburgh.

Jim Sweeney MBE, CEO of YouthLink Scotland, said: “We want to celebrate young people and the youth workers who make a difference. YOYP 2018 is all about making sure that young people are right at the heart of their communities and the decisions that affect them.

“These events across Edinburgh, designed in partnership with young people is a fantastic opportunity for local young people to share their knowledge, showcase their talents and talk about issues that affect them.”

Year of Young People 2018 aims to inspire Scotland through its young people, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contribution to communities and creating new opportunities for them to shine locally, nationally and globally.

The Youth Community Action Fund is administered by YouthLink Scotland, the national agency for youth work and is funded by Scottish Government.