Tag: YWCA

Seeking stories from the YWCA’s Scottish history

Do you have memories from the old YWCA centres in Edinburgh, Penicuik and Dalkeith?

The Young Women’s Movement, formerly known as YWCA Scotland, is seeking stories from its 100-year history in Scotland, as part of an oral history project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The charity, which is Scotland’s national organisation for young women’s leadership and rights, is hoping to speak to people who were involved with the YWCA in Scotland from 1924 to present-day.

This could include those who worked or volunteered with the YWCA; stayed in a YWCA hostel or residence; or delivered or took part in activities or events with the YWCA.

The YWCAs in the area included the Edinburgh Morningside club, the Roundabout Centre on Gayfield Place, and the Lochend, Edinburgh, Penicuik and Dalkeith centres and residences. The charity are hoping to hear from people with memories of these.

The stories will be collected into a digital archive, which will continue to grow with new stories as the organisation’s work continues. The archive will serve as a record of our 100-year history and how life has changed for young women and girls in Scotland, and a source of inspiration for the next generation of young women.

This project, called Young Women Remember, is a participatory research project being co-produced by The Young Women’s Movement and a group of volunteer researchers from across Scotland.

Jenni Snell, CEO of The Young Women’s Movement, said: ‘We’re thrilled to be marking our centenary by uncovering and celebrating the work people put into our movement in its first 100 years.

“We know there are stories of activism, support, and community linked to our organisation all over Scotland, and we’re excited to bring those to life to inform and inspire our next 100 years of re-imagining Scotland for young women and girls.

‘If you have a story about the YWCA in Scotland to share, please do get in touch. Our thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for making this project possible.’

Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland said; ‘Thanks to National Lottery players our support will enable this project to connect across generations to collect and preserve this important heritage of grassroots community activism across Scotland.

“And, in the process, it will also deliver opportunities for young women to develop the valuable skills needed to gather and archive these stories.’

If you have a story to tell about the YWCA in Scotland, find out more at youngwomenscot.org/young-women-remember or get in touch via email to samar@youngwomenscot.org or by phone or text to 07538136230.

Young Women Lead at Holyrood

A project which aims to boost women’s involvement in politics have their work recognised this week in the Scottish Parliament.

Deputy Presiding Officer Linda Fabiani MSP led a debate in Parliament on Thursday welcoming the publication of the 2019-20 Young Women Lead Report.

The report investigates the obstacles facing BAME women transitioning from school to the workplace. A subject chosen due to a lack of Scotland-specific data on the issue. It looks at employment opportunities for women from ethnic minorities considering recruitment, retention and development policies and practices.

The Young Women Lead Committee is a leadership programme for young women aged 30 and under who live in Scotland and is delivered in partnership with the Scottish Parliament and YWCA Scotland – The Young Women’s Movement.

Deputy Presiding Officer Linda Fabiani MSP said: “I am delighted to lead the debate today which will give us all an opportunity to better understand the barriers faced by young BAME women across the country.

“Throughout the last year, I have been continually impressed by the young women involved in this project. They have put together a vital piece of work despite the immense challenges presented by a global pandemic.

“The recommendations of this timely report should be taken on board to help create a fairer and better Scotland for all.”

The Young Women Lead programme was launched in 2017 and was created from a need to address the lack of representation of young women in politics. In 2019-20 the programme was revised with the intention to increase young BAME women’s political participation and to hear their voices and experiences.

The programme was created from a need to address the underrepresentation of young women in politics. Working with the Scottish Parliament, The Young Women’s Movement (YWCA Scotland) has designed the programme for 30 participants from a range of diverse communities to come together in the Parliament to run their own committee inquiry, focusing on a topic of their choice.

You can read the full report here.