Young people to take the lead in mental health study

Young people will lead an in-depth, 15-month study into child and adolescent mental health services to recommend improvements to Ministers. Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt has announced £95,000 to establish the Youth Commission on Mental Health Services – a partnership between the Scottish Government, Young Scot and the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH). Continue reading Young people to take the lead in mental health study

Embrace screening: SHE Scotland film event at North Edinburgh Arts

I wanted to let you know about an exciting event which SHE Scotland are hosting on 6th December 5-8pm.
We are screening an amazing documentary following Taryn Brumfitt’s crusade as she explores the global issue of body loathing, inspiring us the change the way we feel about ourselves and think about our bodies.
Our audience will be made up of young women, youth workers, women and a few famous faces we hope!
Tickets are £10 per adult ticket. We are raising funds to enables us to create a girl zone in the North community.
I hope you can make it and if you need a ticket or tickets please get in touch by Friday 24th November.
Karen
shescotland@outlook.com

Swinney: “More must be done to change attitudes to young people”

People are most likely to hold positive views of young people as trustworthy and helpful to others, new research from the Scottish Government shows. The survey, published during the launch week of Year of Young People 2018 (above) examined the attitudes and perceptions of more than 1,000 adults towards 13-19 year olds. Continue reading Swinney: “More must be done to change attitudes to young people”

A parents’ guide to cyberbullying

How to keep your child safe online

According to the NSPCC, there were over 12,000 counselling sessions with young people who talked to Childline about online issues last year, with an 87% increase in sessions over the past three years. Enigma Digital Limited works with families all across the UK to restore peace of mind to parents that are worried about their children being bullied by providing Enigma Recovery, the number one smartphone data recovery solution provider that allows users to retrieve stolen or deleted data. Continue reading A parents’ guide to cyberbullying

Scotland’s youth to take centre stage in 2018

Year of Young People launched today

A major programme of events and activities to celebrate Scotland’s young people will take place in 2018, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will announce today. A global first, the Year of Young People 2018 will provide a platform to showcase the personalities, talents and achievements of Scotland’s young people.

It will give young people, aged 8 to 26, new opportunities to influence decision making on issues affecting their lives and be involved in cultural and sporting opportunities across the country.

Young people have been involved in designing the programme, with more than 500 signed up to volunteer as Year of Young People 2018 Ambassadors.

EventScotland will deliver a programme of events for all ages, and Young Scot, Children in Scotland, the Scottish Youth Parliament and YouthLink Scotland will lead youth participation and involvement in the Year.

Ahead of meeting young people in Dumfries the First Minister said: “This is an opportunity to shine a light on the fantastic contribution young people make to life in Scotland. The Year of Young People will give young people a new platform and new opportunities for their voices to be heard in all parts of our society and hopefully help to foster a better understanding, co-operation and respect between generations.

“The talents of our young people span the length and breadth of the country – evident in the great programme they have helped to put together. I want to thank all of the partners involved in supporting this initiative, who have helped to put together what I am sure will be a wonderful celebration of young people in 2018.”

To support the Year, a group of young leaders called Communic18, will work with organisations throughout 2018.

Communic18 member Lauren Asher, 18, from Dumfries, said: “I wanted to be involved in the Year to help challenge the perceptions of young people. I have suffered from mental health issues and as part of my role, I hope to give more young people a voice on this issue so that we can change attitudes and ensure young people are having their say on issues which affect their lives.”

Other partners involved in delivering the Year of Young People 2018 include Creative Scotland and Glasgow European Championships 2018.

Visit the Year of Young People 2018 website for more information about the year.

The EventScotland events programme can also be viewed online. It includes:

  • A special #ScotWord torchlight procession as part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay
  • TEDxGlasgow@Youth
  • Diverse CiTay Festival in Perth
  • The Big Takeover in Shetland

The Year of Young People 2018 is focused around six core themes: Culture, Education, Health and Wellbeing, Enterprise and Regeneration, Equality and Diversity and Participation.

Scottish Government activity will focus on giving young people a stronger voice in policy making across education, mental health services and children’s rights. They will also be involved in the European Championships 2018.

It is part of the Programme for Government 2017-18, which committed to: strengthening the voice of children and young people in their education and learning; promoting and protecting children’s wellbeing and rights; and improving their life experiences and life chances.

The YoYP 2018 Ambassadors initiative, led by Young Scot, Children in Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament, will see young people working with their peers and older generations to challenge negative stereotypes of young people within communities.

Continue reading Scotland’s youth to take centre stage in 2018

Young Start empowers sporting Scots to have their say

An apprenticeship programme designed to empower young people who have a disability to have a voice in shaping sporting activity in Scotland receives £49,985 of Young Start funding being awarded today.  Disability Sport (SDS) is one of five groups sharing in £206,196 of funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Young Start programme, thanks to dormant bank and buildings account money.  Continue reading Young Start empowers sporting Scots to have their say

Children’s Society welcomes council tax exemption for Scottish care leavers

Charity The Children’s Society has welcomed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement that all care leavers in Scotland will be exempt from council tax. Continue reading Children’s Society welcomes council tax exemption for Scottish care leavers