Young people – Page 2 – The NEN

Edinburgh International Book Festival welcomes Alice Oseman

Full day of FREE themed activities to coincide with headline YA event at McEwan Hall

On Tuesday 13 August award-winning YA author and HEARTSTOPPER creator Alice Oseman appears in an EIBF event in conversation with author Lauren James
In tandem a full day of FREE themed events will take place at the Festivals new home at Edinburgh Futures Institute
From the chance to write a letter to your younger self, to posting your letter to Alice via the onsite postbox, making your own zine, and chilling out with some gorgeous dogs from Therapets®, there is something for all ages to enjoy

On Tuesday 13 August the Edinburgh International Book Festival will welcome award-winning author and HEARTSTOPPER creator Alice Oseman to the Festival with a whole day of FREE events and activities for audiences of all ages.

Alice Oseman says: ‘I always love visiting the Edinburgh International Book Festival and I couldn’t be happier to be teaming up with them and BKMRK for a whole bunch of extra special Heartstopper activity on site this year.

“There’s loads for fans and festival goers to get involved with, whether that’s coming along to the event itself or getting creative with the free zine making sessions, hugging a Therapets puppy, or joining in on the Heartstopper treasure hunt – I can’t wait to see you all there!’

Alice, who enjoys global success thanks to their graphic novel HEARTSTOPPER series (and subsequent Netflix show of the same name) will be in conversation with young adult author Lauren James at an event at McEwan Hall as part of the Festival’s Front List.

The pair will discuss the success of the series which tells the story of the ups and downs of first loves, friendships, coming out and mental health.

Aspiring illustrators, comic creators and all round creatives can relax in the dedicated Chill Out Zone on site at the Edinburgh Futures Institute throughout the day. Inside there will be drop-in zine making sessions courtesy of the Glasgow Zine Library.

For those needing a more mellow moment, Therapets® will also be joining us for the day in this brand new outdoor area. In keeping with the relaxed vibe of this space, the Therapets® are dogs with calm and gentle dispositions, who love being petted, and bring canine cuddles to site.

Throughout the day of Alice’s event, LGBT Youth Scotland will be onsite at EFI delivering self led activities in Venue C, and there will be Heartstopper leaves for visitors of all ages to write messages to their past selves.

If you would like to share your experience pre-or-post event you can catch a sound recorder roaming around site, and there will also be a podcast episode with Alice to listen back to after the day is over.(TBC) You will have the option to add your stories and letters to their (Un)seen, (Un)heard archive.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is also delighted to be partnering with Young Scot, with the Young Scot Reward scheme offering 15 members an opportunity to win the chance to attend Alice Oseman in conversation with Lauren James with a friend, as well as an exclusive meet and greet with the author.

Fans of Alice’s will also have the opportunity to share their very own letters with Alice via an onsite postbox and will be able to record dedicated vox pops via a special sound recorder.

Before all of this, from Mon 29 July you can also snap a selfie with a series of illustrated posters at three city centre sites, to be in with a chance to win a signed complete HEARTSTOPPER Vol 1-5 set, and tickets to Alice’s event on 13 August.

Young Scot Chief Executive, Kirsten Urquhart, said: “We continuously aspire to provide unique opportunities for young people.

“It is therefore extremely exciting to have partnered with the Edinburgh International Book Festival to offer a chance for Young Scot Members to win tickets to see Alice Oseman, author of the global phenomenon Heartstopper, in conversation with Lauren James. If you’re not already a member you can sign up for free here. We hope the lucky winners have an incredible day!”

At a time when the cost of living crisis continues to impact families, the Book Festival is committed to providing free events and entertainment through its two week run to ensure that all young people in the capital, and indeed from further afield, can enjoy engaging with books and the power of words.

These events make up Future Tense, the first Edinburgh International Book Festival programme from Director Jenny Niven, and it will unfold for the first time at the Festival’s new home at Edinburgh Futures Institute.

The full programme can be found here:

https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on

Young Brits warned of dangers of modern slavery abroad

Young people travelling to popular holiday destinations to work in bars and clubs have been given advice on the dangers of labour exploitation

Thousands of young people travelling to popular holiday destinations including Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca to work in bars and clubs have been given advice on the dangers of labour exploitation.

Border Force officers have been running Operation Karetu at 22 airports across the UK, targeting young people travelling to work in Mediterranean destinations who could be at risk of exploitation, criminality and illegal working.

The month long operation has so far seen officers engage with over 1,000 young Brits, providing them with leaflets and guidance on how to avoid the risks involved as unofficial public relations (PR) reps – work that involves touting people into clubs and bars.

Young holidaymakers who travel abroad every year to work in the hospitality industry risk being forced to work long hours for low wages. Risks include working illegally due to a lack of knowledge about EU employment regulations or being exploited by serious organised criminal gangs. 

Operation Karetu was initially launched in 2018 amid concerns over the welfare of young British nationals being exposed to different types of exploitation particularly labour and sexual exploitation. The Operation has had significant success and since 2022 there have been zero cases of labour exploitation reported to the British Consular in the Balearics.

However, many cases of Labour exploitation go undetected, and Border Force continue to run Operation Karetu every year as an important preventative operation to protect young people.

Home Office Minister, Seema Malhotra said: “Travelling abroad for a summer in the sun is an exciting prospect for thousands of young people across the country, but it’s important they’re able to do that safely.

“Operation Karetu is just one example of Border Force’s work to protect the British public, ensuring young people are kept safe from unscrupulous employers.”

This year’s operation was specifically targeting the Balearic Islands, which includes popular tourist destinations such as Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca.

The operation began on 17 June and is running until 19 July this year, and is carried out in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the modern slavery charity, Unseen, and British embassies abroad.

Border Force carries out Operation Karetu annually as part of its Prevent and Protect strategies, to end involvement in exploitation and strengthen safeguards by protecting individuals, organisations and systems.    

Key advice from Border Force officers to people considering working abroad are:  

Working while a tourist in the EU is illegal. If you are not an EU national or legally resident in the EU, you need a job offer, work permit and visa. More information is available on Travelling to the EU and Schengen area – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Check you have a visa and a contract before starting your job.  
Ask about accommodation and find out the rent/costs. Do this before accepting accommodation as part of a job offer.  
Keep hold of your passport at all times. If it is taken, report it to police. You can contact the local British Consulate for help and advice. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The Border Force operation is supported by modern slavery charity Unseen, who operate the Modern Slavery Helpline. Anyone feeling vulnerable about their work or finances can contact the Modern Slavery Helpline, in confidence, on 08000 121 700. 

The operation is just one part of the work Border Force carries out to address modern slavery and trafficking. All front-line Border Force officers are trained to identify signs of modern slavery and make the necessary referrals. 

Child Poverty Action Group: Youth Panel members wanted

We are looking for new members to join our amazing Youth Panel!

Applications are now open!

Who is the opportunity for? Young people aged 14-18, living in London. Please click and share this paid opportunity!

Apply through the easy online form: https://bit.ly/3XRfz1L

Clear science inspiring the next generation of citizen scientists on Clean Air Day

This Clean Air Day, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are supporting a day of learning where young people will be encouraged to lead change, tackle air pollution and protect the future of our environment through science.

Over 300 pupils were invited to a special event at the Glasgow Science Centre yesterday (Thursday, 20^th June 2024) to celebrate the schools that have taken part in the “Our Amazing Air” Learning Lab programme run by the science centre in partnership with SEPA.

Young people visiting the centre on Clean Air Day enjoyed a range of themed activities including interactive exhibits and experiments, talks with experts from SEPA, University of Strathclyde and Nooku, and a brand new Our Amazing Air science show, which will run to the end of August as part of the centre’s public programme.

Launched in 2022, the Our Amazing Air programme is a STEM learning initiative aimed at P5 – P7 pupils that teaches young people about the importance of clean air, how the air environment functions, and the effects of air pollution on our health and the environment.

The programme includes training sessions and free lesson plans for teachers so they can support their learners to explore the air around us and investigate how it supports life through hands-on activities, group discussions and experiments. A total of 1200 pupils from 50 classes are taking part in the learning lab this term.

Dr Colin Gillespie, SEPA’s Air Modelling Unit Manager, said: “Good air quality is essential for a good quality of life, helping maintain our health and wellbeing and our climate and habitats. Everyone has a part to play in helping to improve air quality and tackle pollution – and education is a vital part of this.

“It’s fantastic to see so many young people engaging with issues surrounding air quality and inspiring to see them turn these learnings into positive actions that will make a real difference to communities and our environment.

“Clean Air Day gives everyone an important opportunity to consider how we can change or adapt our behaviour to improve the quality of our air and spread the positive message about the benefits of clean air.”

Tara Gibson, Senior Learning Coordinator at Glasgow Science Centre, said: “Our Clear Air Day activities have been made possible thanks to our partners ICLEI, University of Strathclyde and SEPA, resulting in us delivering a great programme of workshops and shows for hundreds of school pupils to take part in.

“The day’s events also allow us to showcase the wide range of engaging and accessible resources and experiences available to schools through our Learning Lab programmes.”

Tackling air pollution and raising awareness

While air quality in Scotland has significantly improved over the past three decades, air pollution still poses a significant risk to our environment and wellbeing.

Air pollution is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the biggest environmental threat to our health, with recent scientific evidence from the WHO supporting the development of more stringent guidelines for air pollutants due to the impacts on human health.

Children are particularly at risk due to their developing lungs, brains and immune systems, yet millions across the UK are still exposed to dangerously high levels of air pollution at home and at school, where traffic and idle vehicles at the school gates can be a real concern.

Coordinated by environmental charity Global Action Plan, Clean Air Day is a national air quality campaign that brings together communities, schools, businesses, local authorities and other organisations across the UK to address the issue and build awareness of the impact of air pollution.

Now in its eighth year, this year’s campaign is focused on promoting greener travel to reduce localised air pollution and ensure people have the option to travel in ways that are better for our health and the planet.

Clear Science for Clean Air

Alongside the Our Amazing Air event, SEPA’s air quality scientists also visited a school in North Lanarkshire this week to celebrate Clean Air Day with pupils and share the results from monitoring air quality around the school gates.

Working together with East Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire local authorities, SEPA have issued sensors to eight primary schools over the past few months to monitor the air quality, investigate the data produced and support teachers and pupils with initiatives such as encouraging active travel on the school run.

SEPA staff returned to St Brendan’s Primary School in Motherwell on Wednesday, 19^th June to present pupils with their findings, which revealed elevated levels of air pollution in the area, particularly at drop off and pick up times.

The information gathered will support the ongoing anti-idling campaign championed by pupils at both St Brendan’s and Muirhouse Primary Schools, with youngsters aiming to reduce the number of vehicles at the school gates to cut down on localised air pollution.

Dr Colin Gillespie added: “It is encouraging to see young children keen to see the data produced from the air pollution monitors outside their schools and proactively lead change in their local communities.

“Making this information transparent and available to all allows young people and their families to make decisions on their behaviours and day-to-day activities which can have a positive impact on air quality, the wider environment and their health.

“With a long history of supporting air quality around schools in Scotland, we really recognise the importance of clean air, especially on young lungs, and promoting the fact that we’ve all got a part to play in protecting and inspiring the next generation of citizen scientists.”

Edinburgh young people invited to take part in life-changing CashBack Summer Programme

Run by leading creative engagement charity Impact Arts, the free Summer programme will take over space at Edinburgh’s City Arts Centre in July and August
Young participants will work with professional artists, musicians, filmmakers and actors before a celebratory showcase at the beginning of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Edinburgh young people aged 14 – 24 are being invited to explore their creativity and boost their confidence this summer break, as creative engagement charity Impact Arts gets set to bring its successful CashBack Summer programme to the city once again.

CashBack to the Future offers a completely free 5-week summer programme, giving young people the chance to work with professional artists, musicians, filmmakers and actors on invigorating creative projects. Young participants will have the chance to learn new skills, improve their physical and mental health, make friends, build their confidence, and have fun.

Designed to help increase creative confidence, as well as offering the chance to gain SQA qualifications or a dynamic youth award, CashBack to the Future has been run in the city by Impact Arts for the last six years.

Over the years hundreds of young people across Scotland have been supported by the project, which is designed to benefit participants who find school tricky; struggle with mental health; are care experienced; or are new to Scotland. It is funded by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities initiative, which backs projects helping disadvantaged young people.

CashBack Summer will take place at The City Art Centre from 8 July – 7 August, running Mondays to Wednesdays.

It will culminate in a showcase on 07 August, during the first week of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, celebrating the participants’ work and their achievements for friends, family, and the public to attend.

At the same time as the Edinburgh groups, Impact Arts will also run parallel CashBack groups in both Glasgow and North Ayrshire over the same five weeks this Summer.

More information on the CashBack Summer programme can be found at:

https://www.impactarts.co.uk/project/cashback-summer

Venture Scotland new programme

We have a programme starting on 24th June!

This opportunity is for anyone aged 16-30 living in the City of Edinburgh experiencing poverty, dealing with unemployment, struggling with mental ill health, feeling socially isolated, or living in challenging circumstances and is keen to make some positive changes in their life.

Venture Scotland’s Journey Programme is a free, 12 week-long personal development programme based in the outdoors.

What to expect:

Regular activity days, like canoeing, gorge-walking, coasteering, hill walking, rock climbing, orienteering, and more.

Regular skills and wellbeing sessions*.

Residential trips to a remote bothy (simple cottage) in the Borders and to our Bothy in the beautiful Glen Etive.

The opportunity to challenge yourself and make positive changes in your life, all in a supportive and non-judgemental environment.

Gain skills such as confidence, communication, teamwork, and leadership.

If you are interested and would like to know more, please see our website for more details and for our referral form: https://venturescotland.org.uk/

You can also contact Louisa who is our Outreach and Support Worker via email at louisa.selwood@venturescotland.org.uk ; on Facebook Messenger Louisa Venture Scotland; or phone/text 07535 164 285.

Health Charity urges Edinburgh’s youth groups to join campaign

CALL FOR END TO VAPES MARKETING TARGETING YOUNG PEOPLE

ASH Scotland is marking World No Tobacco Day by urging youth groups in Edinburgh to join the health charity’s campaign calling for the end of vapes advertising and marketing being targeted at children and young people.

‘Protecting young people from tobacco industry interference’ has been chosen by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the theme for this year’s campaign.

ASH Scotland is aiming to amplify the voices of youth groups and youngsters who want to stop the marketing of sweet flavoured, brightly coloured vapes and their promotion by organisations funded by tobacco firms targeting young people.

The charity believes concerns by the next generation of voters about marketing luring young people to start using and becoming addicted to health harming vapes should be heard loud and clear by all candidates in the General Election.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “In supporting WHO’s World No Tobacco Day 2024 campaign in Scotland, we are keen to hear from children’s and youth groups in Edinburgh who want to speak out about predatory tobacco industry marketing tactics promoting vapes and creating a new wave of addiction.

“For decades, tobacco industry promotions lured young people into starting to use their addictive and harmful products and, in recent years, the same is now happening with vapes.

“Vapes contain high levels of nicotine, which is very addictive, as well as toxic chemicals that have not been safety tested for breathing in and can damage lungs over time.

“We want to support young people in Edinburgh to raise their concerns about vape marketing that is targeted at them and their friends, and there is no better opportunity than during the General Election campaign!”

For information about ASH Scotland’s World No Tobacco Day campaign, visit: www.ashscotland.org.uk/WNTD.

Youth clubs interested in joining the charity’s campaign can email:

comms@ashscotland.org.uk.

Local Scottish Green MSP hails “life-changing” impact of Free Bus Travel for young people in Edinburgh

Lorna Slater, the local Scottish Green MSP for Lothian Region has hailed the transformative impact of free bus travel for everyone under 22 in Edinburgh.

New figures, published by the Scottish Government, show that over 85,314 young people in the capital city are already benefiting from the scheme, allowing them to travel anywhere in Scotland.

This groundbreaking initiative was secured through negotiations between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government. Scotland is the only country in the UK that offers free bus travel for all young people under 22.

Over 137 million free bus journeys have been taken across the country, allowing young people to travel for work or education, or simply to visit friends and family.

Ms Slater said: “The free bus travel scheme for under 22s has been transformative, and in some cases life-changing, for young people in Edinburgh.

“Allowing young people to access school, work or leisure for free is helping to support them and their families through a Tory cost-of-living crisis which has hit everyone in Scotland.

“The scheme has opened up huge opportunities for young people across our communities, creating exciting new chapters and helping them to explore the country and develop crucial skills for the future.

“Transport is Scotland’s largest source of carbon emissions. Encouraging people to use public transport rather than take the car is a huge boost for our environment and will reduce the number of cars on our roads.

“Over 85,000 young people in Edinburgh have already signed-up for their free pass, and I urge all those who have not yet registered to do so today at Freebus.scot.”

Two new speakers announced for Children in Scotland conference

Teen cancer survivor and advocate Molly Cuddihy and Natalie Don MSP join impressive line-up for Children in Scotland Annual Conference 2024

Children in Scotland has today revealed two more speakers for its Annual Conference 2024, with teen cancer survivor and advocate Molly Cuddihy, and Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, Natalie Don MSP, joining the packed lineup of expert voices.

Held on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 May at Murrayfield Stadium, the flagship event will bring together delegates, partners and supporters from across the children’s sector, providing opportunities to exchange ideas, network and learn.

Addressing the conference with a keynote speech on day one, Molly Cuddihy is a passionate advocate for the rights of children and young adults, particularly those living with and progressing from cancer and other serious illness, having been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer when she was just 15 years old.

Currently a Youth Ambassador for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Molly has a wealth of experience to share with the conference. As co-founder of the charity Every Thank You Counts, and co-ordinator for the acclaimed Radio Therapy podcast, which covers themes including mental health, body image and mortality, the inspiring teen will provide fresh perspectives on topics close to her heart.

Speaking on day two of the conference, Natalie Don MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, will discuss a range of issues relevant to children and young people, and the wider sector, providing valuable insights.

Natalie Don MSP said: “I’m really looking forward to what is set to be another amazing event run by Children in Scotland.

“I was lucky enough to be invited to their 30th Anniversary Networking event last year where I had the pleasure of meeting a number of past and present staff members, and engaged with the amazing members of the Changing our World children and young people’s advisory group.

“As this inspirational group has been heavily involved with the development, planning, and workshop selection for the upcoming conference, I know it will be a very interesting and thought-provoking event where experts in a wide variety of areas can get together to discuss issues impacting children.”

Alongside powerful keynote speeches, informative panel discussions, and engaging workshops, children and young people’s voices will be central to both days of the Annual Conference, with representatives from Changing our World (CoW) co-chairing the programme.

Ensuring attendees hear directly from the young Scots they work with and for every day has been a key goal for Children in Scotland when planning the Annual Conference 2024, and further highlights of the programme include co-designed workshops and interactive sessions, covering everything from supporting neurodivergent children to suicide prevention, Artificial Intelligence, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, learning through play, youth homelessness, and many more topics.

Two Scots receive Rotary Young Citizens Awards

‘OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES’

TWO young people from Scotland have been awarded Rotary Young Citizens Awards for 2024 for their outstanding commitments to their communities:

Ian Duncan (13, Edinburgh), a prominent ‘frame runner’ with Cerebral Palsy, was awarded for climbing the equivalent height of Ben Nevis in steps to raise money for the local Riding for Disabled centre in Muirfield.
Rhys McCole (23, Inverclyde), currently the world’s only para-disabled competitive boxer, was awarded for his commitment to charity endeavours and volunteer work whilst facing numerous health challenges. These include setting up his own boxing programme with local schools, and supporting organisations Inch by Inch, Fighting for Autism and Enable Scotland.

A 13-year-old boy from Edinburgh has been designated a ‘Sporting Hero’ after winning a prestigious Rotary Young Citizen Award.

Ian Duncan was named a ‘Rotary Young Citizen Sporting Hero’ after climbing the equivalent height of Ben Nevis in steps to raise money for the local Riding for Disabled (RDA) centre in Muirfield.

Ian lives with Cerebral Palsy, which impacts his mobility, coordination and balance. Since the age of three, Ian has benefited from Hippotherapy at RDA Muirfield, a physical, occupational and speech therapy which utilises the natural gait and movement of a horse to provide motor and sensory input.

Ian is a prominent ‘Frame Runner’, which is a form of adaptive running which uses a ‘trike’ to support the athlete’s body, giving them the sensation of free movement. Ian proved a natural at frame running, and has proven committed to training in all weathers – even making the 30-mile round trip to his training site near Edinburgh, twice a week.

The training sessions have given Ian confidence, freedom and friendship, and he has played a pivotal role in growing the club to a team of six. In addition to helping support the club’s growth, Ian also took part in a medical study based at Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh (the university collaborated with the East Lothian club to develop the squad).

The study, funded by Action Medical Research, looked at the impact of frame running on the health and wellbeing of individuals with walking difficulties.

Ian’s natural talent for dressage has seen him take part in a number of UK-wide events, resulting in him finishing third in the virtual National Championships, riding the mechanical horse Oreo – a first for the competition.

To support his local RDA centre, Ian challenged himself to climb the 8,810 steps that represent Scotland’s highest mountain – Ben Nevis. In doing so, Ian raised a fantastic £1,755, ensuring more young people can benefit from Hippotherapy.

Ian received his award on Saturday 20th April from two former winners, Bella Field and Katriona Goodsell, at the Rotary Young Citizen Awards ceremony in Alcester, Warwickshire, home of Rotary GB&I.

Ian was nominated for his Rotary Young Citizen Award by the Rotary Club of Braids.

Rotarian Pauline Skinner said: “It is fantastic to hear that Ian has won the Rotary Young Citizen Sporting Hero award. Through his work with his athletics club he has raised the profile of frame running in Edinburgh.

“His fundraising for RDA has enabled others to share the benefits of horse riding. He has shown that anything is possible.”

Ian was chosen as a 2024 winner alongside eight other young people. Now in its 17^th Anniversary year, the Rotary Young Citizen Awards was launched in 2007 to celebrate the amazing achievements of young people across Great Britain and Ireland, many of whom have assumed important responsibilities at a very young age. Nominations are put forward by Rotary Clubs.

Rhys McCole, a 23-year old from Gourock, Inverclyde, has been awarded a Rotary Young Citizen Peacemaker Award 2024 for his dedication to community service and leadership.

The award recognises Rhys’s commitment to charitable endeavours and volunteer work, despite facing numerous health challenges, including holes in his heart, Mears Irlen syndrome, Auditory processing disorder, dyslexia, Autism and Asthma.

Currently the only “para-disabled” boxer in the world that competes in mainstream boxing, Rhys has also launched his own boxing programme for young people. Through this, he has worked in conjunction with local schools to encourage health, fitness, and social inclusion, and promote important messages such as anti-bullying and anti-substance abuse.

The impact of Rhys’s work is recognised in the local community, with schools reporting the physical and mental health benefits of his boxing programme, as well as reduced violence and improved attendance among students.

Rhys has represented Inverclyde as an ambassador for the Year of Young People 2018, as well as a presenter for Inch by Inch, a campaign aimed at reducing obesity amongst the population of Scotland. He has also dedicated himself to supporting organisations such as Fighting for Autism and Enable Scotland.

Rhys, who received his award on Saturday 20^th April, was nominated for the award by the Rotary Club of Gourock.

Rotarian Norman Pettigrew, commented: “Rhys’s dedication to supporting young people in his community is truly inspiring.

“Despite the challenges he faces, he serves as a role model for both resilience and compassion, and his work exemplifies his passion for making a difference in the lives of others.”

Find out more about the inspirational Rotary Young Citizen Award Winners 2024 at www.rotarygbi.org.