Young people who have been leading a campaign to remove shame from conversations about relationships and online safety have celebrated their achievements with an event at Clydebank Town Hall.
The Shameless Youths campaign, involving 17 young people supported by NSPCC Scotland, in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Youth Council and West Dunbartonshire Council, launched last November.
It was set up to support parents and carers, professionals and young people to have realistic, judgement free and informed conversations about healthy relationships, on and offline.
During the past six months the group of young people from West Dunbartonshire Youth Council have spread their message of healthy relationships, including what consent online looks like, through their web pages, video content, social media, posters and leaflets.
They have reached at least 470 professionals, 104 parents and carers, 365 young people, and had 2,334 views of their video.
The group, who named their campaign ‘Shameless Youths’, also worked with Glasgow artist Maya Rose Edwards to help create sculptures and other artworks that were displayed at Clydebank Town Hall earlier this year.
At the event, on June 26, Shameless Youths took to the stage to explain their goals and motivation for getting involved and what they have enjoyed most and gained from the experience.
Ilse Sanchez Posso, Lead Officer with Violence Against Women and Girls, and West Dunbartonshire Provost, Karen Murray Conaghan, also spoke about why the campaign matters to West Dunbartonshire.
Euan MacLaren, NSPCC Campaigns Officer in Scotland, said: “The young people of Shameless Youths have been amazing to work with. They have engaged with a challenging topic head-on with courage, determination and a passion for change.
“They have inspired parents, carers and professionals across West Dunbartonshire and beyond to have positive, supportive conversations with the young people in their lives, and helped young people understand what healthy relationships look like.
“It’s been an honour to work with the West Dunbartonshire Youth Council. I can’t wait to see what’s next for them.”
Rhianna (16), a member of the Shameless Youths group, said: “There’s been lots of fun moments working on this campaign, including making the video. It has really strengthened our bonds.
“Working with Maya was also incredible; they were brilliant at engaging us and allowing our voices to be heard. It’s been lovely to see how many people we’ve reached with the campaign; it’s really inspiring.”
Councillor Clare Steel, Convener of Educational Services, said: “While many children are confident online, technology is constantly evolving, and it is important for groups like this to raise awareness to the benefit and the dangers of being online.
“Shameless Youths is sending a powerful reminder of the ongoing challenges to create an online world where children and young people feel safe, included and empowered and I thank them for raising awareness of this important subject.”
West Dunbartonshire Provost, Karen Murray Conaghan, said: “Keeping young people safe online is essential and the Shameless Youths should be very proud of everything they’ve achieved to advocate for others.
“It’s brilliant that they have been willing to step up and give voice to what’s important to them.
“They have done a great job of working together collaboratively to spread some very important messages including letting other young people know that if things do go wrong help is available.”
Resources for parents, carers, professionals and young people will continue to be available on the Shameless Youths website. The campaign also has plans to reach more young people and adults over the next year.
If you are worried about the welfare of a young person, contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email: help@nspcc.org.uk.
Young people looking for support on any of the issues mentioned, can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.
The Shameless Youths campaign was led by a group of 17 young people aged 15 to 20. They named it ‘Shameless Youths’ because they want to be supported, not shamed or judged for their choices, even when something went wrong or mistakes happened.
