Yesterday’s government figures showed that job vacancies have hit a record high of 1.2 million, an increase of 20% in the past three months. It’s seems like a no-brainer that our young people should be able to train to fill these roles.
Many of the sectors continuing to battle with skills shortages, such as construction, manufacturing, and hospitality, are reliant on Level 2 vocational qualifications as a direct route into jobs in these industries.
Yet, the Government has failed to prioritise these lower level, work-ready qualifications, instead focusing their post-16 policy and funding at qualifications of A Level standard and above.
The Government have a chance to close the skills gap and the disadvantage gap that is so significant among 16-19-year-olds, boost the economy and give young people the future they deserve. But to do this, they must ensure a wide range of high-quality, employer-endorsed options are available at all levels.
Scottish charity HorseBack UK has been chosen to deliver the Prince’s Trust Team Programme, starting next January.
Aimed at young people aged 16-25, the Prince’s Trust Team Programme inspires and empowers participants to think about their future. The emphasis is on teamwork, community, environment, wellbeing and future employment.
The programme is based on HorseBack UK’s decade plus experience running its Military courses to empower serving and former military personnel suffering from both physical and mental life-changing injuries.
Using horsemanship and outdoor activities the charity delivers personal development programmes that encourage participants to acquire new coping strategies and life skills, and to build lasting resilience and leave with an official SQA qualification.
Horseback UK’s Schools Development Programmes have been successfully running for the past six years. With an emphasis on participation and personal development, teenagers participate in the same SQA Level 4 Certificate in Personal Development Through Horsemanship over a 15day programme.
The new Youth Development Programme, a 12-week course of personal development training and community engagement, has been created in collaboration with The Prince’s Trust and will be delivered as part of The Princes Trust Team Programme at HorseBack UK’s HQ in Dinnet, Aboyne.
Horseback UK is a charity based in Scotland and is supported by HRH the Duchess of Cornwall who is now the charity’s Royal Patron. The Duchess shares a passion for horses, is a keen rider and understands the incredible emotional impact horses have on human recovery. It is this emotional connection, along with HorseBack UK’s distinctive educational tools, that makes the charity leaders in mental health recovery.
Anxiety and depression are seriously affecting our young people, particularly following the Covid pandemic.
There is evidence of increasing anxiety and depression among young women aged 16 to 24 years in the UK, with nearly one-third (31%) reporting some evidence of depression or anxiety in 2017 to 2018; this is an increase from the previous year (26%) and the same period five years earlier (26%) (Source www.ons.gov.uk)
Evidence shows young people between 16 to 24 reported suffering more from some form of anxiety than other age groups (28%) and also of moderate to severe symptoms of depression (22%) (Source www.ons.gov.uk)
HorseBack UK delivers personal development programmes using horsemanship and outdoor activities that encourage participants to acquire new coping strategies, life skills and build lasting resilience.
The team at HorseBack UK is imperative to the success of the participants and each course leader has some form of mental health life experience that supports the delivery.
Throughout the programme participants will get the opportunity to take part in an Activity Residential, two Weeks Work Placement, Interview and CV building skills, a Community Project, The Prince’s Trust Certificate and Award in Employment, Teamwork and Community Skill, develop Presentation Skills, work with Horses and gain additional qualifications:
SQA Level 4 Personal Development Through Horsemanship.
SQA Level 4 Mental Health and Wellbeing.
John Muir Award (Discovery Level).
HorseBack UK provides a number of courses including Military, Community, Schools and Corporate. The Prince’s Trust Team Programme at HorseBack UK starts on Monday 31 January 2022.
Emma Hutchinson, co-founder of Horseback UK, said: “Everyone at Horseback UK is very excited to be delivering this programme for The Prince’s Trust. It’s a perfect fit. We are passionate about helping people with mental health challenges and The Prince’s Trust focuses on helping vulnerable young people get their lives on track.
“Horses are such wonderful creatures and they have proven time and again that they can really help young people reconnect with themselves and build their confidence and self-esteem to help them make the most of their lives.”
On Saturday 23rd October, families from across Edinburgh came together to celebrate the grand opening of a brand-new kids coding studio, Code Ninjas, launched by long-term friends and business partners, Mark Higgins and Dacre Purchase.
The family-focused business owners were determined to make it a day to remember for video-game loving kids in their community.
Mark explained: “The event went extremely well – almost 200 children, their parents and local supporters came along to wish us all the best with the new venture. Ater such a positive reaction, we’re all so excited to see what the future has in store for the business.
“We’d personally like to thank all of the wonderful families who came along. We’ve been so taken aback by the positive feedback we’ve already received since the grand opening party and have been so happy to see so many budding ninjas signing up to our sessions. Thank you to our community for celebrating our launch event with us – it was certainly one for the history books!”
Code Ninjas is the first location of its kind in Scotland and, as proven by the success of this recent launch event, a much-needed addition to Edinburgh.
“At Code Ninjas, we want our kids to develop a real passion for technology, so while the programme is loads of fun, it is also very educational,” added Suzy Enoch, the Code Ninjas studio manager.
“They are learning the language of the future – we want to give kids a gift that lasts a lifetime. Learning about computers at such a young age is crucial because it helps build the vital foundations for future success,”
Someone who experienced the fun of Code Ninjas first-hand was Juliette, aged 13.
“I learnt so much at the launch party – it was so fun!”, she said. “Grown-ups always tell you that coding is complicated, but I went to the game-building workshop and I understood it all – I made a really cool game.
I hope I get to go back so I can develop the game more and maybe start on the next level. The whole atmosphere was not like school at all – it was so relaxed even though we were still learning stuff. I loved it.”
Mark, Dacre, Suzy and the team have been just as overwhelmed by the positive response from parents. “My children were so engaged during the demonstration workshops,” said Amy.
“They are showing a real interest in what coding is, what it can do and how to apply it. The staff members are friendly and patiently answered everyone’s questions. My kids loved the decoding game too!”
Another parent, Rob, who brought his six-year-old daughter, Elodie, along on the day said: “The kids had a great time doing the coding challenges – the staff and volunteers were really friendly and helpful.
“It’s really great to see computers and programming made accessible for kids of all ages and such a range of technological toys all in the same place. We can’t wait to come back!”
Now that the studio on is open on Morningside Road and ready to welcome ninjas from across the region, children – like Juliette and Elodie – can work towards achieving the highest Code Ninjas’ honour of becoming a black belt!
“We’re here to guide the children of Edinburgh through our exciting curriculum and truly put Scotland on the map for kids coding education,” added Mark. “We’re looking forward to a ninja-fuelled future, that’s for sure!”
To sign up or find out more about Code Ninjas, visit:
Members of Britain’s only youth community rail partnership were given a taste of revolutionary greener travel as they rode a hydrogen-fuelled train to and from Glasgow at COP26.
Young people involved with the 6VT Community Rail Partnership, based in Edinburgh, joined Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, aboard HydroFLEX, created by rail leasing firm Porterbrook and the University of Birmingham.
As Britain’s first mainline-approved hydrogen-train, HydroFLEX has been on display during the climate summit as part of the UK government’s plans to decarbonise rail travel by 2050.
While on board, 6VT members enjoyed a demonstration as to how the hydrogen technology works and took part in discussions around the importance of developing sustainable travel to combat the climate emergency.
They also had the opportunity to experience a train-driving simulator at the Rail Delivery Group’s green and sustainable-themed stand at Glasgow Central Station.
Last month, the partnership, who are members of Community Rail Network and part of the growing community rail movement across Britain, marked the first-ever ‘Community Rail Week’ by taking a journey from Edinburgh to Glasgow. During their trip, members pledged to ‘Go Green by Train,’ writing letters to themselves containing personal changes they could make to become more environmentally friendly.
6VT member Daisy Fiennes said: “Going on the HydroFLEX train was a great experience.
“It’s incredible how like an ordinary train it is, yet so different. It’s amazing how people are working so hard to solve the climate crisis, and it’s so important that we do solve it, because there isn’t a planet B.”
Fiona Horne, operations manager at the 6VT Youth Café, where the community rail partnership is based, added: “6VT Youth CRP were delighted and privileged to be invited to experience a journey on the groundbreaking HydroFLEX train.
“Our young people got to hear and see first-hand how the train works. As passengers of the future, their hope is that this method of green travel will be part of the way forward.”
Transport has a huge role to play if the UK is to reach its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 100% of 1990 levels, or ‘net zero’, by 2050. It is now the largest emitting sector in the UK, making up 27% of domestic emissions in 2019.
Rail is already acknowledged as one of the greenest ways to travel, producing just 1% of transport emissions, and is getting greener all the time.
The £8million HydroFLEX project allows new hydrogen fuel systems to be installed on upcycled trains, providing a clean and renewable energy source. The train, which also welcomed Prince Charles and Prime Minister Boris Johnson during COP26, is a tri-mode that can also run on electricity and battery power, all sources identified as having a role to play in decarbonising rail traction.
Alongside her Community Rail Network role, Ms Townsend was at COP26 as the chair of the Sustainable Transport Alliance, a group that brings together the UK’s leading sustainable transport organisations.
The alliance’s ‘People make transport: communities enabling greener travel’ event highlighted the importance of drawing on community actions and voices, including those of young people, to place walking and cycling, public, community, and shared transport at the heart of climate ambitions.
She said: “It was fantastic to join members of 6VT aboard HydroFLEX, and to be able to talk to them about sustainable transport and the vital importance of green travel at a local and global level.
“COP26 has underlined how we must put people, communities, and justice at the forefront in tackling the climate crisis, and this very much applies to transport.
“Rail, combined with buses, walking, cycling, and shared mobility, provides a huge part of the solution: shifting as many journeys as we can onto these modes, and reducing private car use, can help us forge a more sustainable, healthy, inclusive future, which is particularly important for our younger generations.”
An inquiry has been launched into the health and wellbeing of children and young people by a Scottish Parliament Committee.
The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is seeking to find out the key issues around health and wellbeing for children and young people in Scotland. They will investigate what the challenges and opportunities are for improving their health and wellbeing, and how addressing poverty can lead to improved health and social care outcomes.
The inquiry will focus on 4 key areas:
• Child poverty (including the Scottish Government’s current child poverty delivery plan), inequality and adverse childhood experiences; • Issues affecting care experienced young people; • Mental health, access to Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and the importance of early intervention; • Health and wellbeing in schools
Speaking as the inquiry launched, Gillian Martin MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said: “There are a whole host of factors which impact the health and wellbeing of our children and young people, and our Committee will consider these in detail.
“The physical and mental toll of the pandemic on children and young people cannot be overstated and we know that prior to this pandemic there was already a high and increasing demand for youth mental health services in Scotland.
“As we emerge from the pandemic and with the Scottish Government’s current child poverty delivery plan due to run until 2022, our inquiry comes at a pivotal time. We are determined to find out how children and young people can best be supported to live healthy and flourishing lives.”
The City of Edinburgh Council is channelling crucial Young Person’s Guarantee funding into 14 employability programmes to help as many young people as possible get into work.
As Scotland’s Capital looks to build a stronger, fairer and more sustainable economy, councillors at the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee this week were given an update on the diverse range of projects and programmes, both new and existing across the city, that will receive grant money.
These programmes will further help young people, aged between 16-24 years old, to prepare or give them the tools to find work.
They are open to all young people, regardless of background or experience, but will also specifically help and support young people who have additional barriers to securing a job. The help that young people can expect to receive will include mental health support, early skills training, practical skills training, as well as in-work support and mentoring as they progress into employment.
The funding supports projects and activities running between October 2021 and March 2022.
The successful providers and their programmes that young people can access are as follows (in no particular order):
Cyrenians “Key to Potential – Key to College” and “Getting Together”
Councillor Kate Campbell, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “We’re really pleased that there were so many good ideas and new, innovative programmes put forward by organisations across the city. The pandemic, and then Brexit, have caused so much disruption to people’s working lives and livelihoods, but we’re particularly mindful of the impact on young people and people facing additional barriers.
“We want to make sure that everyone, but especially those at the early stages of their working life or people who already face disadvantage, get fair access to education, training, skills development and good quality jobs.
“The Young Person’s Guarantee grant programme will help to increase those opportunities and will complement the already extensive support provided across the city.
“As a council we spend almost £5million a year supporting people who need a bit of extra help to find work and build skills and confidence. It’s never been more needed.
“Alongside, we’re making Edinburgh a Living Wage City, so that we’re not just helping people to access jobs, but good quality jobs. As we move through to economic recovery it’s vital that everyone can share in Edinburgh’s success, so making sure that work is fair, and people can earn a living wage, is a top priority.”
Councillor Mandy Watt, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Vice Convener, said: “Our Edinburgh Guarantee promises that no one will be left behind. Through this small grant programme we hope to make sure those who need our help will be given the opportunity to access the support they need so they are ready for whatever training or career aspirations they have their sights on.
“We also want to make sure that this is spread out across the city and that those experiencing the greatest barriers get the most help from these grant programmes.
It is hoped that YPG funding from the Scottish Government will be available in 2022/23 so work with providers to continue projects where the uptake and impact on young person accessing those programmes has been positive.
All under 22s resident in Scotland will have access to free bus travel from 31 January 2022, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed, implementing a commitment agreed with the Scottish Green Party.
New research commissioned by Transport Scotland shows that almost two-thirds (61%) of young Scots agree that access to public transport will play a central role in the fight against climate change.
School pupils, students and social media influencers joined the First Minister and Mr Harvie at Glasgow Caledonian University to mark COP26’s Youth and Empowerment Day on board a new, Scottish-built electric bus as she confirmed the scheme.
The change means around 930,000 young people across Scotland will benefit from free bus travel from 31 January 2022.
Transport Scotland research showed 70% of young people indicate they would use public transport more frequently if it was free.
The Scottish Government has committed to removing the majority of fossil fuelled buses from public transport by 2023.
A Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce has been convened which brings bus operators, the supply chain, energy companies and financiers together to co-design a pathway to a fully zero-emission bus fleet.
Transport Scotland has made £50 million available to the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund, to further support the Scottish bus fleet to transition to zero emission.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “We are committed to giving our young people the very best chances to succeed in life. The extension of free bus travel to all under 22s will improve access to education, leisure, and work, while supporting the adoption of sustainable travel behaviours early in their lives.
“COP26 must be a turning point for the world, and action must be taken if we are to ‘keep 1.5 alive’, and Governments across the world must act to support this. Adopting more sustainable travel behaviour is vital if we are to reach our world-leading goal of reducing the number of kilometres travelled by car by 20% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2045.”
Stewart (17), Young Scot volunteer on the COP26 Youth Climate Programme said: “Free bus travel for young people in Scotland is a fantastic way to help tackle the climate emergency – an issue that’s so important to young people as we are the generation who will be most impacted.
“Not only will it help to reduce our carbon emissions, but it will also support young people like me to study, socialise, get to work and make the most of their lives. It’s a win win!”
Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, Patrick Harvie MSP said: “This transformational policy shows that our focus on tackling the climate emergency goes hand in hand with improving lives and tackling inequality.
“Free bus travel will open up opportunities for young people and ease pressure on family budgets while helping deliver the step-change we need to deliver on our climate commitments.
“Children and young people travelling for free on modern, zero-carbon electric buses is another step towards the fairer, greener Scotland we are committed to building.”
Paul Davies, President & Managing Director of Alexander Dennis said: “Scotland’s under 22s will have a unique opportunity to make sustainable travel choices with free bus travel across the country.
“COP26 is showing that future generations must be at the heart of climate policy and the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme is an excellent example of forward-looking policy in action.
“With the Scottish Government funding zero emission buses that are built right here in Scotland, young people can be sure their journeys will not only be smooth, clean and green, but will benefit communities through the skilled jobs, apprenticeship and graduate opportunities underpinned by this investment.”
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald said: “The SNP Scottish Government is once again making an investment in our young people’s future. By making bus travel free for U22s both her in Edinburgh and across Scotland, opportunities for young people to work, travel and study are being opened up for them.
“Travelling by bus is one of the most environmentally friendly way to get across the country and research shows that young people recognise the vital role public transport will play in hitting our climate change targets.
“This move will not only be vital in our journey to net zero, but will also take pressure off young people and their families’ finances.
“Once again this is a demonstration of how the SNP Scottish Government continues to support young people here in the city and across Scotland have the best possible start in life.”
Pupils from Edinburgh’s Holy Rood RC High School met with the Presiding Officer and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner yesterday to discuss their views on how to tackle the climate emergency ahead of the COP26 summit taking place in Glasgow.
Ten S3 pupils led the roundtable discussion, which is taking place as part of an initiative called The Moment, which is being organised in partnership with the Children’s Parliament, the Scottish Youth Parliament and GLOBE International.
This meeting was one of many taking place across the country, with The Moment bringing together hundreds of children and young people with their elected representatives to make their voices heard on one of the most important issues for their future.
Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP said: “There has rightly been a lot of focus on how we tackle the climate emergency in the run up to COP26. As part of this, it’s essential that children and young people can explore the issues and develop their own thoughts and ideas to articulate their hopes for their future.
“It was inspiring to hear the solutions proposed by young people and to learn more from their perspective about what needs to be done to tackle the climate emergency.”
Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland said: “It was significant to be with children today, sharing their views on climate justice and challenging power.
“The Scottish Parliament’s commitment to hear from, and listen to children and young people on such issues is an important part of its role as human rights guarantor. Children have shown incredible leadership on the issue of climate justice, acting as human rights defenders for everyone’s rights across Scotland and internationally, and we should be thanking them.”
The outcomes of The Moment will be presented by children and young people to MSPs and international parliamentarians at a Summit being organised by GLOBE International and hosted by the Scottish Parliament on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November.
