Efinburgh and Lothian Greenspace Trust (ELGT) are very proud of this hard working group of young people from Granton Youth who are learning brick laying skills in order to build some new brick planters at West Pilton Park.
This is part of the re-development of the park and will be one of the new design features.
Become a peer educator and give girls a space to talk about what’s important to them!
As a peer educator you will explore important topics like mental wellbeing, safety and gender stereotypes, using your own experiences to become a role model for girls all across Scotland.
If you are 14-25 join us in May at our next peer education training weekend. Find out more through the link below 
If you know someone who would make a great peer educator make sure to share the link with them 
Updated Programme!
Have a look at our updated programme, we’ve got a new group and some changes to a few of our usual ones so make sure you’re aware, we don’t want you to miss out 
Only 1 week left to nominate for the #YLSAwards 2026!
Know someone making a real impact? This is your chance to celebrate them!
Nominate an individual or group who inspires change and deserves recognition 
Deadline: Friday 30th Jan 2026
ASH Scotland is encouraging youth workers in Edinburgh to access the charity’s new resources on vaping illicit substances to build their knowledge and confidence in starting conversations to help educate young people to protect their long-term health.
The charity’s ‘Understanding illicit substance vaping’ briefing features insights from young people across Scotland which were shared with the charity’s Youth Conservations Hub.
The resource is published at a time when the emerging major public health issue of youth vaping and the availability of illicit substances in e-cigarettes is causing immense concern for people working with children.
The briefing provides up-to-date facts covering a range of important topics including how younger people are accessing vapes. and the risks and side effects associated with vaping illicit substances such as Spice (man-made drugs designed to mimic the effects of cannabis) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol which is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis).
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive for ASH Scotland, said: “With concerned youth workers across Scotland regularly contacting us for advice about vaping cannabis, THC and Spice, it is vital that those working with young people in Edinburgh can access robust, evidence-based information to engage and empower youngsters to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
“Our new ‘Understanding illicit substance vaping’ briefing can enable youth workers to promote a vape-free culture and encourage the younger generation in Edinburgh to understand the risks associated with vaping illicit substances and make positive choices to protect their physical and mental health.”
The new resource can be downloaded at https://ashscotland.org.uk/illicit-substance-vaping/, and people who work or volunteer for youth groups can join ASH Scotland’s Youth Conversations Hub at www.ashscotland.org.uk/hub.
Hundreds of young people across Scotland have benefitted from a record £3.5 million investment from the Essentia Foundation across 2025.
This total includes their largest funding commitment to date, with £2 million recently awarded to eight leading charities across the country.
Funding will support these organisations to deliver programmes tackling youth unemployment, poverty, poor mental health and barriers to education.
Each of the eight charities, including Edinburgh-based Children First and Bethany Christian Trust, has received £250,000, enabling ambitious projects that are helping young people build resilience, develop new skills, and take steps towards brighter futures.
This major investment comes at a critical time. Young people have been disproportionately affected by recent crises, from the long-term effects of the pandemic to the pressures of the continuing cost of living crisis.
Many continue to face the lasting consequences of disrupted education and social development, alongside limited opportunities in training and employment.
Combined with ongoing mental health challenges and persistent inequality, these barriers mean that support for Scotland’s young people is more urgently needed than ever.
Brian Davidson, Trustee and Chairperson of the Essentia Foundation, said: “Scotland’s young people are facing some of the toughest challenges in generations, and the need for support has never been greater.
“These eight charities are already making a real difference in communities across the country. This funding will help create opportunities, build resilience, and give young people the skills and confidence to thrive.
“The impact of these projects will last well beyond the life of the programmes themselves, and we hope it also sparks further support from others who want to see Scotland’s young people flourish.”
Other grant recipients of £250,000 each from the Essentia Foundation include:
These awards, alongside the additional £1.5 million that has been distributed this year by the Essentia Foundation, underpin its commitment to support young people across Scotland through initiatives focused on wellbeing, education, skills development, and opportunities for employment.
The awards also mark a milestone moment for the Essentia Foundation itself. The Foundation has confirmed it will now wind up its activities, leaving a £1.5 million legacy fund to be administered by long term partner Foundation Scotland, who have been supporting the Essentia Foundation since 2017.
Helen Wray, Head of Philanthropy & Quality, Foundation Scotland said: “We are honoured to continue Essentia Foundation’s legacy through the new fund. For the last eight years, our team has had the privilege of working alongside Essentia to ensure its resources reach young people who need them most.
“This next chapter will see us build on that partnership by supporting grassroots organisations across Scotland.
“We look forward to helping smaller charities deliver vital opportunities that improve wellbeing, education and future prospects for children and young people, ensuring Essentia’s legacy and impact endures for years to come.”
This future programme will provide small grants to grassroots charities, ensuring Essentia’s mission of supporting children and young people continues well into the future.
For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/FoundationScotlandEssentia
A programme funded from the seized assets of criminals delivered £6.2 million funding to support over 15,000 young people during 2024-25.
The money has been used by Cashback for Communities to support 29 organisations delivering projects that divert young people away from anti-social behaviour and crime.
A report into the second year of the programme’s three-year funding phase, which runs from April 2023 to March 2026, showed that after taking part in CashBack for Communities projects:
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “This report highlights the success of the Cashback for Communities programme which helps to divert young people from crime and anti-social behaviour and to make informed choices about their future — choices that positively impact them, their families and communities.
“It is more than an early intervention programme – partners provide a range of support and activities offering safe spaces, trusted adults and opportunities that benefit young people to feel supported and inspired to thrive.
“Since 2008, CashBack has committed £156 million to supporting around 1.4 million young people across all 32 local authorities.
“Cashback’s success is also testament to the work of law enforcement partners in disrupting organised crime groups – bringing them to justice and seizing their ill-gotten gains, using them to deliver a successful programme across the country.”
Granton Youth have partnered up with The Junction – Young People, Health and Wellbeing, 6VT Edinburgh City Youth Cafe, Canongate Youth & Wester Hailes Youth Agency to be apart of a project called ‘Time to Talk’ – to try and support more young people across Edinburgh.
If you are aged 12 – 25 and are looking for support then get in touch with ourselves or find the contact information for your area in the poster attached.
NEW GROUP STARTS WEDNESDAY 5th FEBRUARY 6.30 – 8PM at PENNYWELL HUB
TRAINEE/VOLUNTEERS
MYDG have a new project starting on Wednesday evenings for S3+
If you are interested in being a trainee or volunteer with MYDG drop us a message or email Gillian@mydg.org.uk
The group will run Wednesday evening 6.30-8pm @ our Pennywell hub starting on Wednesday 5th February.
WE’RE BACK!
We’re so excited to welcome everyone back to our groups next week!
All our groups are back from Monday 13th of January – remember if you are new to us or have not completed a consent form since before September 2024 then you need to collect one to come along!
Also please pay attention to the age of the groups as some of them have changed! Any questions, give us a call or pop by and we are happy to help
