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YOUTH WORK: RISING TO THE CHALLENGE, DELIVERING OUTCOMES
Issue 27 | Autumn 2012
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S INTRODUCTION
Crunch time for funding in the Youth Work Sector Welcome to this new look, special Conference Edition of The Link Magazine. Since May I have been out and about visiting members speaking to young people volunteers and paid staff, politicians, boards and management teams. I have been totally inspired by the practice I’ve witnessed and also by the phenomenal commitment of our workforce. As a force for positivity and progression within this country it is a shining example of selflessness and belief in our young folk. I have also been regularly talking to Ministers, opposition politicians and government agencies to ensure they are all aware of what youth work has to offer with regard to the major policies relating to children and young people currently being prioritised. Whether it’s Curriculum for Excellence, GIRFEC or Youth Employment issues, youth work has much to offer and if given more recognition and resource could do even more. It is ironic that at a time when there has never been a clearer need for the skills and positive interventions which youth work brings to young people’s lives we are being faced with the prospect of yet more deep and damaging cuts to funding. These reductions include direct hits on Local Authority Youth Service budgets as well as a diminution of public sector support for the voluntary sector. We await with interest the details around the new Third Sector Early Intervention Fund which will take the place of what was known as the unified fund. Many of our members, and indeed YouthLink Scotland itself, rely on this fund for a key element of their core HQ funding. We will be making strenuous efforts on behalf of all our members and the wider youth work sector to remind local and national government of the need to retain and maintain funding levels while recognising the many dilemmas they face with an ever shrinking budget to balance. We recognise what was confirmed in both the Christie Commission findings and the CLD Strategic Guidance, that now more than ever we need to be engaging with citizens of all ages and working with them on the matters which affect their lives. youth work has at its very heart the ‘co-production’ and ‘asset based approaches’ which are now being widely espoused by governments and funders. We all need to continue to tell our story and to engage with politicians at all levels, encouraging them to come and see our practice, talk to the young people we work with and see directly how youth work can be a massive influence for good. They say that a society gets the young people it deserves, so let’s continue going all out to make sure Scotland is the best place in the world to be young.
Jim Sweeney Chief Executive, YouthLink Scotland
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NATIONAL YOUTH WORKER OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2013
14 March 2013 Crowne Plaza Glasgow National Youth Worker of the Year Awards 2013 NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN! YouthLink Scotland is delighted to announce the sixth National Youth Worker of the Year Awards to celebrate and recognise outstanding service and performance by managers, youth workers and peer educators in the youth work field. This year each nomination category will have three finalists, with the winner and two runners-up being presented with the awards on the evening of the Awards Dinner in March 2013. There will also be an overall Youth Worker of the Year Award chosen from individual category winners.
Award Categories
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Youth Worker of the Year (full-time or full-time equivalent) Youth Worker of the Year (sessional paid/part time) Volunteer of the Year Innovative Practice – Team of the Year Worker of the Year (uniformed organisations) Youth Worker of the Year (intergenerational) Peer Educator of the Year Role Model/Mentor of the Year Youth Work Manager of the Year Agencies and Partner Organisations (worker of the year) Lifetime Achievement Award (fellowship of YouthLink Scotland) Overall Winner
Eligibility
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To be eligible all entries must be accompanied by a completed application form The awards are open to private, voluntary/ charitable organisations and community bodies as well as public sector organisations All work entered into the categories must have taken place in Scotland
THE CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES IS THURSDAY 20 DECEMBER 2012. For more information contact: Susan Symington at YouthLink Scotland on T: 0131 313 2488. E: ssymington@youthlinkscotland.org Front cover photos courtesy of: Young Scot: Universal Connections; No Knives, Better Lives: South Lanarkshire; 6VT Youth Café; TFI Youth Café; Gorebridge Opportunities and The Boys’ Brigade.
NEWS
‘A Seminal Moment for Scottish Democracy’
Equalities and Youth Work Practice
Scottish Co-production Network
SYP Welcomes Votes at 16 Move
New Working Group
New Website
On Monday 15 October 2012, the UK and Scottish Governments formally signed an agreement setting the criteria under which the referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future will be held. One of the key criteria is the franchise will be extended to all 16 and 17 year olds. Grant Castello MSYP, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, says: “Lowering the voting age to 16 is a seminal moment on a historic day for Scottish democracy. For the first time 16 and 17 year olds will be able to have their say at a national level on the way forward for Scotland. We believe it’s entirely right the young people who are the future of Scotland should have their say on Scotland’s constitutional future. “Allowing 16 and 17 year olds to vote shows society believes these young people, who can marry, work and join the army, are capable of being full active citizens. At a time where far too often young people are ignored or vilified by society, today is a very positive step demonstrating 16 and 17 year olds are valuable citizens whose hopes and ideas deserve to be heard”.
Are you interested in participating in a discussion to scope equalities in the youth work sector? If yes, your organisation should have specific practice to share that could enable the learning of others in the sector. YouthLink Scotland will convene a group of interested parties to discuss how youth work engages with equalities issues and the protected characteristics of the Equalities Act 2010. If you are interested in participating please get in touch. A date and venue will be established following receipt of interest.
The Scottish Co-production Network www.coproductionscotland.org.uk is delighted to announce the launch of a new website to support co-production practice across Scotland. The website provides a platform for the sharing of learning and the exchange of co-production practice. It contains useful resources such as tools, case studies and a members’ area where you can find out what’s happening in your area. The network is FREE and open to anyone who is interested in co-production and related approaches. As a member of the network, you will be invited to learning events, network meetings and be able to take part in discussions and information sharing on the website. The Network’s first learning event will take place on 9 November in Perth. This event is the first in a series of learning events which aim to enhance understanding and share practice around co-production across Scotland. Find out more by contacting the Scottish Co-production Network, 0141 222 4839.
Money for Life Challenge Applications Now Open! Young Scot, in partnership with Scotland’s Colleges are looking for young people aged between 16 and 24 years old in further education, work-based learning, adult community learning or a training organisation, to take part in the Lloyds Banking Group’s Money for Life Challenge. The Money for Life Challenge is a UK wide competition to find the most successful and innovative ways that young people can improve their money management skills and those of their friends, families and communities. Learners apply for a grant to run a money management project in their community, and the best projects from each nation will win an all expense paid trip to London to attend the UK Grand Final. Last year’s participants felt that the Money for Life Challenge significantly increased learners’ communication, teamwork, project management, and job skills. Applications close on 23 November 2012.
Contact: Heather McVey, 0131 313 2488.
National Parenting Strategy Scottish Government Strategy Launched Parents will benefit from easier and better access to information and support thanks to Scotland's first national parenting strategy. The strategy sets out a range of commitments including investing £18m (2012-2015) to improve access to information, advice and support for parents throughout their children's lives and introducing legislation which provides a dedicated first contact – such as health visitor – to co-ordinate support and advice for every child who needs it. You can download a copy of the National Parenting Strategy via the Scottish Government’s website: www.scotland.gov.uk
Action Learning Facilitator Training CPD Opportunity As part of a planned approach to support local upskilling and Continuing Professional Development activities within Community Learning and Development, Education Scotland is offering an opportunity to train to become an action learning facilitator. If you use facilitation in your work in any way for the purpose of supporting people in their learning, or in developing their role in the community, action learning is a valuable tool to add to your portfolio. To maximise access to this training, four events will be available across Scotland:
• • •
15 November – Glasgow 22 November – Nairn 29 November – Edinburgh
Find out more and book your place via Education Scotland’s website: www.educationscotland.gov.uk
My Journey Leadership Training Programme for Young People Aged 18-30 The Conservation Volunteers have successfully gained funding to invest in young people who would like to explore the possibility of becoming a leader with TCV and ultimately move on to employment in the outdoors. Young people will receive FREE training in:
• • • • • •
Leadership: My Community My Place (the knowledge and tools to start up your own community project); Employability Award (accredited course at SCQF level 4); NCFE Unit in Hand Tool Use; Xchange Forums and Celebration Event; Support from a mentor throughout the programme.
The training will take place over a 12 week period and will include some days gaining practical skills with your local office. This could include anything from building fences, to maintaining paths or creating a school garden. The programme is not a full-time commitment, TCV is currently booking dates for training and will be able to provide a training calendar shortly. More information is available from your local Volunteer Development Officer or contact Denise Millan at TCV Scotland, 01786 479697. Autumn 2012 | The Link | 3
NETWORKS UPDATE
the sector and the current barriers faced. They did a skills audit to find out what people were using. Recommendations include the need for local and national guidance, a digitals future group and to embed with CLD framework/guidance.
Policy Forum The focus of the last meeting was on Young People’s Mental Health with short presentations from the following organisations: See Me; MYPAS; NHS Health Scotland; Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH); Penumbra; Young Scot; NUS. (Respect Me who were unable to attend, sent two publications on cyberbullying). The inputs were followed by a Roundtable Discussion. We have put together a brief report of the meeting on Mental Health, (including a resources list) which you can get by emailing John Wilkinson: jwilkinson@youthlinkscotland.org The next Policy Forum meeting is to be held at the Youth Work Week Conference at Easter Road on 8 November. This will be in two parts. The first part which will involve the wider membership will be a Roundtable discussion led by the Scottish Youth Parliament on ‘Engaging young people in the political process’ and this will form part of the conference programme. In the afternoon there will be a PF Business Session – to include: plans for reflecting on the three 2012 sessions, discussion of the policy consultations and thinking about 2013.
Members’ Network YOUTHLINK SCOTLAND BUSINESS PLAN Margaret McLeod introduced a review and forward planning exercise which engaged the membership in discussion about the priorities and areas of work for YouthLink Scotland over the five year period from 2013-2018.
Youth Work and Schools Partnership SCOTTISH LEARNING FESTIVAL 19-20 SEPTEMBER YouthLink Scotland had a stand once again this year and the main publications were the new Youth Work and Curriculum for Excellence information sheet, the Building Capacities through Youth Work booklet and the Youth Work Training directory. NATIONAL PARENTS FORUM CONFERENCE 6 OCTOBER Two members of the Partnership (Karen Delaney and Ian Hay) facilitated a workshop looking at what their young people are achieving outside school, what learning takes place outside school and how young people’s achievements are celebrated in the community.
LAUNCH OF BUILDING CAPACITIES YouthLink Scotland has launched a resource that highlights the many ways in which youth work practice is currently helping to implement Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). The booklet has been produced by the Partnership, in conjunction with the PS REST GROU Scottish Government and Education KS AND INTE KEY NETWOR Youth Work Scotland. It features 13 separate case ools & Sch – Partnership Members’ studies that highlight how different CfE rk two Ne Network Policy Forum types of youth work activities that regularly take place across Scotland contribute to CfE outcomes. The Awards Network Comms resource, entitled “Building Capacities & PR Network Through Youth Work” is aimed at ensuring young people, teachers, rity tho Au al Loc Youth Work NVYWOS youth workers, parents and Managers Training employers are all aware of what Network young people can get from youth work activities and experiences.
SCOTTISH BORDERS YOUTH COMMISSION ON BULLYING Input was received from Susan Robb, Participation Officer on the process and recommendations of a report that had been commissioned by the council membership. They recruited young commissioners (14-22) who looked at prejudice/equalities and bullying in the wider community and this led to evidence based recommendations. ntary (National Volu Youth Work ns Organisatio Scotland)
ENABLE SCOTLAND Input was received from Jane Nicol and Ashley Ryan on their three year anti-bullying project – what the project was aiming to do and how it might inform the youth work sector. With money from the Scottish Equalities Fund the intention was to increase knowledge and understanding in schools of the impacts on transitional stages so have been working with P6 & 7 and S1& 2. CHOICES FOR LIFE DI Tommy Crombie and PC Elaine Maclennan introduced the Choices for Life Online programme and Lucy Andrews gave details of the launch of a new website scheduled for 12 September. ‘Choices for Life’ is an innovative diversionary and educational initiative delivered by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) and funded by Scottish Government. DIGITALLY AGILE CLD Marc Forrester provided some insights into the ‘Digitally Agile CLD … Are We?’ project. The project set out to explore and map new technology use within the CLD workplace with the aim to provide a comprehensive picture of new technologies in current practice, skills in 4 | Autumn 2012 | The Link
Training Forum (including Voluntary Sector Training Forum) YouthLink Scotland’s Training Forum met on 28 August 2012, with inputs from Education Scotland, the Standards Council and LSIS. The Forum was split into a morning session for all with a mix of voluntary sector organisations, local authorities and training providers, with an afternoon split session looking on issues specific to the different constituencies. In the morning Rory Macleod, Head of the CLD Standards Council for Scotland gave an overview on developments within the Standards Council with a specific focus on the registration system that is in development, followed by a Q&A session. Sue Gill form the UK Qualifications and Skills Team at LSIS, shared the latest refreshed Youth Work N.O.S and this was followed by a discussion on the respective function of N.O.S and CLD competences for youth work practitioners. Neil McIntosh, from Education Scotland updated the Forum on the Upskilling programme, which led to a discussion on voluntary sector involvement. There was also an input from YouthLink Scotland on behalf of the three partners involved in the Digitally Agile CLD workforce project, followed by a discussion on ensuring skills for the youth work workforce were future-proofed.
NETWORKS UPDATE
National Voluntary Youth Work Organisations Scotland (NVYWOS) The main items for the next meeting on the 29 November include:
• • • • •
Registration and Standards Mark Profiling Employment Law CLD Strategic Guidance YouthLink Scotland Business Plan
We will report on these in the next edition of Networks Update (available to all YouthLink Scotland members). We will also update on the appointment of Chair, Vice-Chair and Strategy Group members.
Local authority Youth Work Managers Group The group provides the opportunity for managers responsible for youth work in a local authority to influence and shape youth work at a national level, support local authorities to take forward youth work developments, enter into professional dialogue and use expertise to advise on emerging policy and practice developments. The last meeting of the group took place on the 7 September. The agenda items covered included updates and discussions on the following:
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Briefing paper for locally elected members. Curriculum for Excellence training programmes for Youth Workers Survey of Local Authority Youth Work Services Proposal Young Quality Scot Award Youth Work Strategy Refresh
For further information contact Gillian Lithgow: glithgow@youthlinkscotland.org
Communications and PR Network The group has now met four times in 2012. After having initially established a solid working format, the group was keen to expand the role and value of the network and as such has under-taken to engage with a series of high profile contacts from different areas of the media profession in Scotland, inviting them to come and present at the group. This approach has so far been highly successful, with the Community Editor from STV Local, Jonathan Rennie, having presented to the group on 9 August about the best way of working constructively to get stories covered by the STV Local news service. The guest speaker format will be continued going forward with future meetings looking to secure input from professional journalists and social media strategists to help round out the different elements of modern media engagement.
The group have now also adopted the use of a shared forward planning document, hosted on Google Drive by YouthLink Scotland, to help improve collective forward planning and minimise event and media clashing between members of the network and their respective organisations. The most recent meeting of the group on 25 October looked at ways in which member organisations can best work together to promote youth work activity during Scottish Youth Work Week in November 2012. Following on from this meeting, the final one of the year, a Survey Monkey feedback form will be distributed to network members to ensure that YouthLink Scotland is continuing to meet the needs of its member organisations in relation to this group.
For further information on our networks please contact Ian Hay, YouthLink Scotland, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ. T: 0131 313 2488. E: ihay@youthlinkscotland.org
NETWORK MEETINGS NOVEMBER 8 Policy Forum 27 Youth Work and Schools Partnership 29 NVYWOS DECEMBER 6 Members Network 7 CLDMS/YLS LA Youth Work Managers Sub Group 13 FAC (Finance & Audit Committee)
NEW PUBLICATIONS ON OUR WEBSITE YOUNG PEOPLE & CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE – BUILDING CAPACITIES THROUGH YOUTH WORK This is a YouthLink Scotland publication and it highlights practice examples of how youth work is delivering Curriculum for Excellence related to the four capacities and experiences and outcomes. YOUTH WORK AND CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE A useful resource that summarises how youth work helps to deliver on the key outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence. YOUTH WORK TRAINING DIRECTORY We have now launched the 2nd edition of the Youth Work Training Directory featuring our members and partners courses from September 2012March 2013. NATIONAL VOLUNTARY YOUTH WORK ORGANISATIONS SCOTLAND SURVEY 2012 Survey into the numbers of young people, volunteers and staff engaging in youth work through the National Voluntary Youth Work Organisations in Scotland – affiliated to YouthLink Scotland. All publications can be downloaded from YouthLink Scotland’s website: www.youthlinkscotland.org
Autumn 2012 | The Link | 5
FEATURE
Youth United-Ayrshire – An Exciting Template for the Future A personal message to delegates from HRH Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay was delivered by Sue Lomas, Chair of the Youth United Foundation as the opening address of the recent top level Education Conference at Dumfries House on 9 October 2012: “I have long believed that every young person in the United Kingdom should have the opportunity, if they wish to, of joining a youth organisation… whether through the Emergency or Military Services, conservation activities, work with the elderly, helping children with additional support needs or developing some kind of vocational skill. It was my hope that by uniting the efforts of so many dedicated organisations, as many teenagers as possible could have the opportunity to experience adventure and undertake activities which are both exciting and rewarding for themselves, but which also contribute something to our wider society.’’ With these words, three years of cooperation in exploring new visions for young people in Ayrshire reached an important milestone. The message outlined support for new ways of linking young people involved in uniformed youth organisations with the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. The event was staged by Youth United Ayrshire, an umbrella organisation aimed at promoting the sharing of resources, skills and expertise and increasing involvement by young people and adult volunteers in all of the ten member bodies, with support from the three Ayrshire Local Authorities. This was the third successful event staged by Youth United Ayrshire in 2012 and followed the much appreciated expedition to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London in June and a Youth United tent at ‘The Forces in the Field’ weekend at Culzean Castle in September. Sue Lomas, Chair of the Youth United Foundation said; ‘I was delighted to attend the recent conference at House to represent the Trustees of the Youth United Foundation. The Youth United partnership in Ayrshire provides a clear demonstration of Local Authorities and Voluntary Sector Youth Organisations working together to deliver new opportunities for local young people within school and community settings. The 6 | Autumn 2012 | The Link
emerging opportunities being provided by Dumfries House and Youth United-Ayrshire look set to become an exciting template for new ways of reaching young people from all areas of our society.’ Youth United was established by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2009 and is supported by The Youth United Foundation. Youth United organisations work to co-ordinate and lead action across the coalition of the major uniformed youth volunteering organisations which collectively provides volunteer-led opportunities for 1.5 million young people. The Youth United member organisations are: Air Training Corps, Army Cadets, Boys’ Brigade, Fire Cadets, Girlguiding UK, The Girls’ Brigade, Marine Society and Sea Cadets, The Scouting Association, St John Ambulance, Volunteer Police Cadets and the RNLI as an associated body. For more information on Youth United organisations please see www.youthunited.org.uk Following the conference the future is looking increasingly lively for young people in Ayrshire and beyond with Dumfries House announcing that the building of a purpose built and equipped 60 bed Outdoor Residential Centre is on target to be up and running in April 2013. Deputy chairman of Youth United-Ayrshire and lead member of the Outdoor Centre subcommittee, Tom Mathew who facilitated the conference said; ‘The conference was a great success and this will set the stage for the opening of the new
Centre in April of next year. With this in place young people can really come together to share ideas, friendship and experiences in a whole range of innovative and exciting ways such as themed environmental weekends, ‘taster days’ for those thinking of joining a youth organisation, leader and volunteer camps and linking in with other Dumfries House initiatives such as the cook school, the rural skills centre, the garden project and the drawing school. We are particularly keen to explore the ideas coming from the conference from the teachers and education leads across the county about linking the uniformed youth organisations more closely with the Curriculum for Excellence.’ All enquiries about booking this facility should be made to: David Lewis, Acting Coordinator, Youth United-Ayrshire, Dumfries House, Cumnock KA18 2NJ at davidbrynlewis@btopenworld.com or to Stephen Kay, Education Manager at the above address. T: 01290 425959.
Members of Youth United Ayrshire with the Director of Lifelong Learning, Mr Alan Armstrong, Education at the Curriculum for Excellence Conference House 9 October 2012.
Photographs credit: courtesy of David Lewis Young Members of Youth United-Ayrshire organisations with some of their leaders at for the ‘Forces in the Field’ Weekend September 2012.
SUPPLEMENT
YOUTH IN ACTION Youth in Action (YiA) Are you a young person aged between 13 and 30, or somebody active in youth work, a youth organisation and a legal resident in Scotland? If so, you can be a participant in a Youth in Action project. Youth in Action (2007-2013) is the programme the European Union has set up for young people. It aims to inspire a sense of active European citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union’s future. It promotes mobility within and beyond the EU’s borders, non-formal learning and intercultural dialogue, and encourages the inclusion of all young people regardless of their educational, social and cultural backgrounds. It also helps people working in the youth sector to develop skills and establish contacts necessary to enhance their work. The YiA programme provides young people and those working in the youth sector, with a variety of opportunities for non-formal and informal learning with a European dimension.
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Helps young people’s development by supporting them with learning new skills. Provides young people with a unique nonformal learning experience. Enhances the European and international dimension of youth organisations’ work. Increases the intercultural learning of youth organisations and the local community. Builds youth organisations’ capacity to innovate and develop quality projects. Action 1.1 Youth Exchanges The aim of Youth Exchanges is to get groups of young people from different countries together so they can explore their social and cultural differences and similarities. Youth Exchanges are targeted at young people between the age of 13 and 25 (up to 20% of participants may be aged between 25 and 30). They receive the unique opportunity to experience significant mutual learning situations and to strengthen their feeling of being Europeans.
Action 1 – Youth for Europe Encourages young people’s active citizenship, participation and creativity through youth exchanges, youth initiatives and youth democracy projects.
Support for youth workers Youth in Action Training and Networking opportunities aim to assist those involved in youth activities to prepare and develop projects and learn more about youth work in other countries within the context of the Youth in Action programme. This opportunity is open to all individuals interested in informal education and youth. For example: youth workers, leaders, support persons (youth advisers, assessors and mentors), trainers, information workers, managers and policymakers. Training can be carried out in Europe and some neighbouring countries in: South East Europe, Eastern Europe and Caucasus and Mediterranean partner countries. These training and networking events are developed to provide opportunities including:
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Establish new partnerships on a regional/ national and international level. Develop international youth work. Exchange good practice. Further your professional development. Call for Training Providers.
Does your organisation have experience in delivering intercultural training and/or training for youth and youth work development? If so, you may wish to consider applying for funding from the British Council to develop and deliver training activities at local, regional and/or national level in the following areas:
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Participation and inclusion Intercultural dialogue through sport Social cohesion and intergenerational dialogue Entrepreneurship and employability Environment
The training will be funded through the Training and Cooperation Programme (TCP) of Youth in Action, and will aim to help young people and youth workers gain knowledge and skills to exploit the funding opportunities provided by Youth in Action, within the sectoral areas above.
Eastern youth partnership In 2013, additional funds will be made available by the European Commission to increase the number of Youth in Action projects with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, under a new mechanism called the Eastern Partnership Youth Window. As part of this, there will be extra funding of €743,000 in 2012 to support new Youth in Action projects involving the UK and Eastern Partnership Countries for the following actions:
• •
European Voluntary Service (Action 2) Cooperation with the Neighbouring Partner Countries of the EU (Action 3.1)
The rules and procedures for accessing these funds are the same as for the main Youth in €743,000 available to UK promoters. The Eastern Partnership Youth Window provides an exciting extra source of support for UK promoters to build on existing links with the Eastern Partnership countries.
Simplified funding rules The European Commission has significantly simplified the funding rules from 2012 for:
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Youth Exchanges (Action 1.1) European Voluntary Service (Action 2) Cooperation with the Neighbouring Partner Countries of the EU (Action 3.1) Training and Networking (Action 4.3)
These changes make it easier to cost your project, with a smaller number of building blocks (“unit costs”) needed to build up your budget. This brings these actions in line with changes previously made to the other actions.
Action 1.2 Youth Initiatives Youth Initiatives are projects entirely devised, planned and implemented by young people at local, regional or national level. The goal of these important nonformal learning experiences is to stimulate young people’s creativity, enterprise and initiative. Youth Initiatives are aimed primarily at 18-30 year olds, but 15-18 year olds can take part if accompanied by a coach or youth worker. Autumn 2012 | The Link | 7
SUPPLEMENT
EDINBURGH CYRENIANS FARM ENTERPRISE IN THE SAME BOAT A cultural youth exchange took place in Scotland which had the theme "In the Same Boat". Young people from Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK were brought together in Glasgow for eight days in August to creatively investigate issues such as youth unemployment, poverty and exclusion and explored how they can work together to build better, stronger societies. This was part of a continuing programme of exchanges that have taken place under the Youth in Action programme over several years involving the same groups. As part of "In the Same Boat" young people participated in a dynamic residential week in Scotland nurturing core, transferable, social skills such as self-esteem, confidence, problemsolving and communication. Participants were involved in a variety of activities including drama, facilitated group work, and cultural visits and were encouraged to look at cultural differences and similarities – celebrating diversity but also finding common ground on which to build meaningful links and partnerships. Young YiA participants quotes: ‘I love making new friends. We still talk to Swedish and Spanish people on Facebook’. Julie Crighton ‘I learn new languages’ Rebecca O’Neill ‘Because you see the land. What is going on in Scotland. New people new experiences. New friends’. Deimitra Petridis
Action 1.2 Youth Democracy Projects Youth Democracy Projects aim at boosting young people’s involvement in the democratic process at local, regional and European level. The objective is to provide young people with ideas about and experiences of democracy, to spark new national and transnational networks and exchanges of good practice. Youth Democracy Projects improve young people’s understanding of how democracy works, helping them to make the most of their right to participate in the decision-making structures of a democratic society.
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Cyrenians Farm Enterprise took on two volunteers for 12 months through the European Volunteer Service action within the Youth in Action programme. They were based on the farm with emphasis of their involvement being on the objectives delivered through working on the land, making secondary produce, undertaking administrative and support functions and interacting with farm visitors. The main thrust of the EVS volunteer was to help foster a healthy and constructive environment in which all participants can make positive developments. The Cyrenians Farm Enterprise occupies a rural position in West Lothian with its main business being the production of organic fruit and vegetables. The majority of farm output is achieved by volunteers and farm supporters working alongside members of the Cyrenians Community. The Farm is a social enterprise and operates in areas including Health and Environment. The objectives of the Farm Enterprise project are to enhance the support given to its vulnerable clients especially in the areas of cultural and national diversity. With raised understanding of others and a corresponding increase in active citizenship both locally and nationally. The various nationalities and backgrounds involved will bring improvements to social cohesion and tolerance. Action 2 –European Voluntary Service Helps young people to develop their sense of solidarity by participating, either individually or in group, in non-profit, unpaid voluntary activities abroad.
RE-CONNECT/LIFE ALONG THE (FORMER) BORDER A group of 13 young people and three youth workers from Wishaw visited Wunsiedel, Germany in July 2012, where they were hosted by a group of young people and youth workers from Wunsiedel. The group activities included a visit to the Czech Republic. In August 2012 a group of 12 young people and three youth workers from Wunsiedel, Germany visited Scotland for a week long programme of activities shared with young people from Wishaw. This included a joint visit to Oban to experience outdoor activities and to see scenic Scotland. The theme for this project was sharing cultures and highlighting that working together with other young people from different countries is one of the most exciting and enriching experiences they could wish for. Our aim was to encourage a true bond between the Scottish and German young people and create a real sense and understanding of being a young European. The programmed activities in both countries were a tool to facilitate our aims. Our programme included educational/cultural visits, joint events (Creating a DVD), local activities/events and social events. We focused entirely on building strong, meaningful and lasting relationships. We did this by having both sets of young people meeting and interacting as much as possible no matter what the programmed activity is; on a bus travelling to a destination or in a classroom, the good work takes place when the young people are together. The aim was to foster the personal development of young people from a range of diverse backgrounds by equipping them with cultural and European understanding, interpersonal and social skills, accessing information, knowledge and training (Language lesson and European awareness) that enables them to expand their horizons which will help bring a long lasting, positive and reciprocal youth exchange experiences.
SUPPLEMENT
YOUTH IN ACTION PROJECTS How to submit an eligible Youth in Action application Making an application to Youth in Action will require some time to plan and prepare. You need to understand which action your project will fit to, so that you can really understand what is necessary for your project to be considered for funding. Plus, if you can avoid making some common mistakes before you submit the application, you will have a better chance of being awarded a grant. The eligibility criteria define how you should apply, what kind of organisations or groups can apply, what type of partner organisations or groups, as well as participants can be involved and finally the type of activity or project duration allowed. You can find the full eligibility rules in the youth in action 2012 Programme Guide available for download from the YiA website. Action 3 – Youth in the World
Travel When travelling abroad on Youth-in-Action projects shop around for flights by contacting the Groups Departments at the main airlines as well as getting a quote from a Travel Agent. Frequently, the low-fare carriers may seem cheaper, but you can’t book until your application is approved (and costs will have risen); they don’t cater for non-direct routes (ie they won’t get you to your destination if the first flight is delayed); there will be additional charges for baggage etc; you can’t necessarily sit together as a group; and you must pay the full cost at time of booking. For these reasons it is often better to book with the major airlines as you’ll not need to pay the balance until about a month before, by which time the grant should have been received. Alternatively, you could arrange coach or minibus travel remembering all the necessary forms and paperwork that are required when using these as part of an exchange visit abroad. This gives the advantage if undertaking a town twinning exchange of being able to take other groups eg adults who can contribute towards the costs thereby reducing the young people’s costs. The coach costs will be the same whether there are 20 or 40 people on it.
Safety Risk assessments are crucial when undertaking any project and are the main reason why an advance planning visit is so important. Translation of safety notices in buildings and for any adventurous activities being undertaken are often overlooked and ensuring that everyone is made aware of any equipment that may be different – eg some bicycles in other countries are braked by backpedalling! Collecting a comprehensive database of allergies and medical issues for all participants is essential and ensuring that all leaders are aware of these and the treatment that should be given if a difficulty arises. If under-taking homestays ensure that child protection guidelines (in all relevant
languages) are given to participants and families so that everyone knows the code of conduct to be followed. Remember to check the legal situation in the particular country as the age that you are allowed to smoke, drink and have sexual relations differs widely and ensure that those coming to Scotland are aware of our Sexual Offences Act as it is much wider than in most countries and covers texting and use of mobile phones as well as stating that no-one can give consent to sexual relations if they are drunk, and therefore any such activity is immediately classified as Rape.
Young people’s involvement Young people’s involvement in Youth in Action Projects can be recognised by some of the Wider Achievement Awards from the SQA – Volunteering; Leadership; Ready for Employment etc. Their involvement in planning, implementing and reviewing the activity should be recognised and the whole youth work approach used will enable them to evidence the outcomes of curriculum for excellence that they have achieved. They will be successful learners, confident individuals; effective contributors and responsible citizens as a result of the project that they have undertaken. Demonstrating what they will learn and achieve throughout the project will help your application score higher and will give them a great start to their adult life.
Promotes partnerships and exchanges among young people and youth organisations across the world.
‘La Team’ During 2012 BTCV Scotland, along with four European conservation organitions, collaborated to offer participating volunteers a common structured programme: ‘La Team’. La Team comprised a focused preparatory month, a four month EVS placement (June 2012 to September 2012) during which volunteers worked as part of a European team carrying out environmental projects in the local community and a concluding month, during which volunteers put into practice the skills and experiences they have gained during their EVS placement, for the benefit of their own communities and organisations.
Training Courses The Youth in Action programme runs training courses throughout the year for youth workers and young people for the preparation and implementation of projects. Many of these are specific to an Action but there are also training courses for organisations and individuals interested in a specific theme. www.salto-youth.net
Tip of the Day: Don’t forget to take a photocopy of everyone’s passport and EHIC in case they are mislaid.
Autumn 2012 | The Link | 9
SUPPLEMENT
‘ERASMUS FOR ALL’ Action 4 – Youth Support Systems Includes various measures to support youth workers and youth organisations and improve the quality of their activities.
YOUTH IN ACTION FACTS •
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Youth in Action – a total budget of 885 million euros for seven years (2007-2013), the Programme supports a large variety of activities for young people and youth workers. Youth in Action is the EU Programme for young people aged 15-28 (in some cases 13-30). It aims to inspire a sense of active citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union’s future. January to June 2012 a total of 339 YiA grant applications were submitted in the UK. YouthLink Scotland is creating a positive impact as it promotes the Youth in Action programme. As well as to handle general YiA enquiries YouthLink Scotland plays a critical role in supporting and counselling individual applicants with their Youth in Action applications. €154,246.00 awarded to Scottish organisations (January-June 2012) through the YiA programme. Cumbernauld YMCA and Valleyfield Scouts are two organisations which received funding through the YiA programme.
Investing in Europe’s education, training and youth In November 2011, the European Commission released its proposals for the successor programme to the Youth in Action, Lifelong Learning and other international programmes. This new programme, provisionally called Erasmus for All, will run from 2014-2020 and will bring together all of the previously separate programmes into one integrated programme. Erasmus for All is the new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport proposed by the European Commission on 23 November 2011. The proposal is now under discussion by the Council (27 Member States) and the European Parliament who will take the final decision. Erasmus for All would bring together all the current EU and international schemes for education, training, youth and sport, replacing seven existing programmes with one. This will increase efficiency, make it easier to apply for grants, as well as reducing duplication and fragmentation. It is due to start in 2014. More information can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus-for-all/
Action 5 – Support for European Cooperation in the Youth field Supports youth policy co-operation at European level, in particular by facilitating dialogue between young people and policy makers.
YouthLink Scotland continues to work with the British Council as a Youth in Action Information Provider to increase uptake in Scotland and the quality of applications across all YiA programme actions. As well as promoting the YiA programme, YouthLink Scotland handles general YiA enquiries, plus any queries from applicants prior to selection. YouthLink Scotland also plays a critical role in supporting and counselling individual applicants with their applications. For further Youth in Action information please visit http://tinyurl.com/cbls2jk or contact Marc Forrester by email yia@youthlinkscotland.org or telephone 0131 313 2488. 10 | Autumn 2012 | The Link
WHAT IS A YOUTH DEMOCRACY PROJECT? A Youth Democracy Project is developed by European partnership, allowing the pooling, at European level, of ideas, experiences and methodologies from projects or activities at local, regional, national or European level, in order to improve young people’s participation. Experiences within the youth field can vary, so the Youth Democracy concept is designed to be flexible, in order to accommodate the variety of experiences different groups can bring. Some examples of activities implemented within a Youth Democracy Project are:
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Creation of networks for the exchange, development, and dissemination of good practice in the field of youth and participation • Consultations by and of young people, with a view to find out their needs and wishes on matters relating to participation in democratic life • Meetings between young people and decision-makers or experts in the field of participation in democratic life and democratic institutions • Events simulating the functioning of the democratic institutions and the roles of decision-makers • Information events or seminars or debates for young people centred around the mechanisms of representative democracy at all levels, including the functioning of the EU institutions and the EU policies • A series or combination of the above activities, which may be carried out at different levels (local, regional, national, international) within the time-frame of the project The key is to establish brand new relationships between organisations or groups which serve to promote the participation of young people in the democratic process. Therefore each organisation or group involved must each be independent from the others.
WORKFORCE AND PRACTICE
Youth Work Training Directory 2012-13
Digitally Agile CLD (DACLD)
The 2nd edition of the Youth Work Training Directory is now available featuring courses from members and partners from September 2012– March 2013. The Directory has been compiled on behalf of YouthLink Scotland’s members and partners to highlight the significant range, depth and diversity of training and CPD opportunities for those working with young people in Scotland.
YWCA Sccotlan d Training
YWCA Scotland inspires girls a nd young women to ach ieve their potent ial through developing skill ls, selff--confi fidence and lead ship and throu dergh challenging the barriers theyy face in soci e s ety. Throu gh evidenceein nformed trainin i g, we aim to increase skkills, knowledge, an d confiidence o f youth and community wo r ers to encou rk rage genderr in clusive practice in work with yo ung people.
KƵƌ ĨŽƌƚŚĐŽŵŝ ŶŐ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ ŝŶĐ ůƵĚĞ ͚ ƵŝůĚŝŶŐ 'ĞŶĚĞƌĞĚ WĞƌƐ ^ĞůĨ ƐƚĞĞŵ ŝŶ ƉĞĐƚŝǀĞ͕͛ ͚zŽƵŶ zŽƵŶŐ WĞŽƉůĞ Ő WĞŽƉůĞ Θ dĞĐ WĞƌŝů͍͛ ĂŶĚ ͚dĂ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ŚŶŽůŽŐLJ͗ ^ƚƌĂŶ ĐŬůŝŶŐ ^ĞdžƵĂůŝƐ ŐĞƌ ĂŶŐĞƌ Žƌ ĂƚŝŽŶ Θ 'ĞŶĚĞ are detaailed in WĞĞƌ ƌ ŝƐĐƌŝŵŝŶĂƚŝŽ this directory. Ŷ ŝŶ zŽƵƚŚ tŽ Courses will be organisaations an ƌŬ͕͛ ǁŚŝĐŚ free for volunteer d available on s from voluntaar a sliding scale y of fees for o paid worker s. These co ourses will run again in early 20 these co 13 and YWCA S ourses to grou cotland can als ps of 10 or o more learner o pr ovidee s within your o wn organisation YWCA Scotland . also offers cour rses and works ŐĞŶĚĞƌ ŝŶĐůƵƐŝŽ hops on othe Ŷ ĂŶĚ LJŽƵŶŐ Ɖ o r issues re ĞŽƉůĞ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶ levant to to address e risk of abus Ő ƚ Ś Ğ ͞ h Ŷ ĚĞƌ WƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ͟ e and sexxual exp ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞ ship witth Zero loitation in teen Tolerance.) n relationships (in partnerFor furtther infor mation on currr ent courses, worksh website www. ywcascotland.o ops and confer rg . For further ences, visit ou to enquire abou r informattion on t bespoke train future courses ing for your or K͛ LJƌŶĞ͕ >ĞĂƌŶ o or ganisatio ŝŶŐ Θ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵ on, contact Ra ĞŶƚ KĨĨŝĐĞƌ͕ Ra c 01592 655373. ha el chael@ywcasco tland.org, Tel.
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Features: Bespoke training providers information Accredited youth work training section Training courses and events
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If you have missed out on the opportunity to be included this year we can continue to include courses in our online calendar and the online version of the Directory will be updated throughout the year. Please contact Timothy Frew: tfrew@youthlinkscotland.org The Youth Work Training Directory 2012 – 2013 is available in hard copy and online http://alturl.com/q55x6 W. Dunbartonshire – Community
YouthLink Scotland’s Training Forum
The training forum meets regularly to:
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Share information, good practice and resources Support collaborative training initiatives Scope future workforce development needs Gather labour market intelligence Keep up with national developments in youth work and CLD
YouthLink Scotland’s Training Forum last met on 28 August 2012, with inputs from Education Scotland, the Standards Council and LSIS. The Forum is chaired by Angela Morrell from North Ayrshire Council. The Forum was split into a morning session for all with a mix of voluntary sector organisations, local authorities, and training providers, with an afternoon split session looking into issues specific to the different constituencies. The next meeting date has not been confirmed, but will be in February. To register interest in participating in the Forum please contact Tim Frew. tfrew@youthlinkscotland.org
YouthLink Scotland, Learning Link Scotland and the Scottish Community Development Centre have been funded by Education Scotland to continue the DACLD project until March 2012. Over the next few months opportunities will be offered to the CLD sector to participate in:
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sharing new technologies practice national stakeholders event 3 regional learning seminars 3 action learning sets
The following web link below will take you to the full DACLD report and other digital related resources: tinyurl.com/DACLD2012 Contact mforrester@youthlinkscotland.org for more information.
Youth Literacies Resource Coming Soon The Big Book of Literacies Training (BBLT) is a bank for supporting young people with their literacies. This resource is designed to be used, not as a prescriptive pack, but to use as and when it is relevant to work with young people. Some of the resource is designed for reference to inform practitioners working on youth literacies, and includes information on policy and initiatives relating to this agenda. BBLT also includes practical exercises for training with staff or for use with young people. Development is led by Education Scotland and YouthLink Scotland on behalf of the cross sectoral development group. BBLT will be launched at the Scottish Youth Literacies Network on 20 November and will have a targeted Youth Work launch at the YouthLink Scotland’s Members’ Network on 6 December 2012. For further information contact hmcvey@youthlinkscotland.org or sheila.doogan@educationscotland.gov.uk
YouthBank Scotland Welcomes Funding to Involve, Invest and Inspire YouthBank Scotland has welcomed the announcement of £49,400 from the Big Lottery’s Young Start Fund to develop an exciting new programme of activity entitled “Y3I” (Involve, Invest & Inspire) that will take the organisation’s work in Scotland to the next level. YouthBank Scotland (YBS) is a youth led organisation, reaching communities across the country that supports young people to become leaders of community improvement. It works with young people and local stakeholders to develop skills for life through community capacity building activity. A YouthBank is a youth led decision making model that involves young people, working with partners, to establish a grant fund that is distributed to other young people locally for the benefit of all. The Young Start funding will be used to establish a National Forum as a representative structure, bringing together local young people that are the leaders of YouthBank activity share their skills and knowledge and to shape the future of YouthBank Scotland in an annual residential and through activities across the year. In addition, an Ambassadors Programme will establish a group of young people as champions and examples of youth participation and leadership to encourage YouthBanks and community groups to widen opportunities for young people at a local, regional and national level. Both the National Forum and Ambassador programme will be supported by a YBS youth worker and access to accredited training. Commenting on the funding announcement, Andrew Jardine (18), Chair of YouthBank Scotland said: “This funding for our Y3I project is very welcome and comes at an exciting time for YouthBank Scotland. It will be used to help build YouthBank Scotland’s capacity; as well as develop the confidence and skills of the young people we engage with and enable them to gain new qualifications. “Y3I will involve, invest and inspire more young people to take entrepreneurial approaches to community challenges. This is at the core of what YouthBank Scotland is all about, developing young people as leaders of local and national activity, sharing their experiences with communities across Scotland to create and improve opportunities for young people and their communities.” For more information on YouthBank Scotland, visit their website at: www.youthbankscotland.org Autumn 2012 | The Link |11
16+ ACTIVITY AGREEMENTS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL – ACTIVITY AGREEMENTS ACROSS SCOTLAND Youth employment continues to hit the headlines, with a range of additional measures announced by the Scottish Government this year to support young people into sustainable employment. Opportunities for All set out its aim to ensure that every 16-19 year old not in employment, education or training is offered a suitable place in learning or training. Within this framework YouthLink Scotland continues to support the development of Activity Agreements – an offer of a tailored package of activity and learning to re-engage young people furthest from the labour market. Activity Agreements are now being offered to young people across all 32 local authorities. Local authority partnerships are taking creative and innovative approaches to Activity Agreements, to ensure successful post-16 transitions, reflecting the guidelines set out in Opportunities for All and Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy.
Better employer engagement The Recruit programme in Renfrewshire uses a high level of employer engagement to offer young people on an Activity Agreement the opportunity to prepare for employment. Local employers mentor and support participants through a series of work-based ‘challenges’ – activities designed to encourage young people to problem-solve and work together to produce a result. Employers also identify jobs which are held specifically for Activity Agreement young people to apply for.
Earlier identification of need In Fife, local partners offer a supported pathway to help young people who have been identified as being at high risk of disengagement to make a successful transition from school. Young people are identified earlier and offered a place on an ‘Icebreaker’ in-school programme delivered as part of the senior phase curriculum. The programme gives young people an opportunity to prepare for their next steps, and to begin to develop employability skills. The strong links between this preparation support and post-school Activity Agreements 12 | Autumn 2012 | The Link
as the most likely progression pathway for this vulnerable group of young people has been crucial in enabling these young people to stay engaged and progress.
Defined outcomes and progression routes In delivering Activity Agreements local authority partnerships provide learning opportunities that respond to young peoples’ needs and reflect the local labour market climate, to ensure that progression routes are clear and sustainable.
Sustainable employment for sustainable communities Activity Agreements in the Western Isles are delivered within a long term strategy to enable a greater number of young people to remain on the islands. This involves creating a coherent programme of vocational training opportunities that reflect and prioritise the needs of the local labour market.
Skills pipeline approach North Ayrshire uses a skills pipeline approach, to link individual needs to opportunities at a local level. Young people on Activity Agreements can work their way along a continuum of employability activities, moving from initial engagement to participation in further learning, training or work.
Enhanced support for young people A considerable component of all Activity Agreements is one-to-one support provided by a professional known to the young person. This support is vital to the successful transition throughout and beyond a young person’s Activity Agreement.
In Numbers •
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To date, around 4,500 young people have taken the first step on their career path by participating in an Activity Agreement. There are currently over 2,000 young people engaged in Activity Agreements. Around 65% of young people progress into employment, training, FE or another positive destination from an Activity Agreement.
NO KNIVES, BETTER LIVES
North Ayrshire
No Knives, Better Lives is an initiative with multiple strands that reach out to young people through community engagement; schools and youth work programmes; diversionary activity; advertising and partnerships with local stakeholders. NKBL is currently being delivered in 10 Local Authorities – keep up to date with all the latest activity by liking our Facebook page (search for No Knives Better Lives); follow us on twitter (@NKBLScotland) or visit our website (www.noknivesbetterlives.com).
Those involved in delivering NKBL work will be able to access an online ‘practitioners network’ to share resources, ideas and collaborate on projects. For further details, email Gina and Orielle at nkbl@youthlinkscotland.org
NKBL Youth Summit – 2 February 2013 The national NKBL Youth Summit 2013 will be held in Glasgow on 2nd February. The inspiring event will bring together young people involved or interested in NKBL, to hear their views on what has been done so far and how they’d like to shape the future of the initiative. A motivating and creative day is currently being designed by workers and young people from the NKBL areas.
Woodwynd Wolves Community Football team, part of the community charity ACES (Ayrshire Communities’ Education and Sport), have been working with Strathclyde Police to deliver the No Knives, Better Lives message across North Ayrshire. In conjunction with KA leisure, Stagecoach, Street Sprint and Hope UK, they visited six areas to deliver a soccer challenge to engage with teenagers, deliver key messages and offer positive life choices. The road show was so popular that ACES, together with North Ayrshire campus police officers, will deliver the roadshow to Primary schools further afield.
W. Dunbartonshire – Community
West Dunbartonshire – Community Safety Month
Parent Pilot NKBL will be piloting an exciting new area of work with parents. The first pilot will take place in early 2013 with the aspiration to roll it out to all our NKBL areas after this. As part of the No Knives, Better Lives campaign, Scottish Government and ParentLine will embark on a
partnership to develop activity which will empower parents and carers to better communicate with their children, to help them avoid getting involved in knife crime.
Training NKBL provides training to youth workers, teachers and other colleagues in the content and delivery of our two educational toolkits – ‘On a Knife Edge’ and ‘Sharp Solutions’. We offer training which will reference both toolkits and can be tailored to suit the level of previous experience and needs of the group. We are now providing follow up contact from the trainer for those who have completed the training, to offer observation and feedback on their delivery. This will create a chance for some
additional learning, giving the opportunity for practitioners to access further support or share their experiences.
Safety4Kids was a multi-agency programme, taking place over two weeks from 4–14 September in W. Dumbarton. Every Primary 7 child (896 children) from all Primary Schools in West Dunbartonshire had the opportunity to attend the full day event. The children visited 10 separate learning stations and participated in themed activities, of which No Knives, Better Lives was one. The programme aimed to get core safety messages over to children in an effective way that will be remembered, understood and influence behaviour in order to reduce the risk of harm. Short, high impact workshops allowed children to learn through ‘hearing, seeing, saying, doing and reflecting’ followed up by the opportunity for further reflective learning when back in their school environments.
Autumn 2012 | The Link |13
CASHBACK FOR COMMUNITIES
CashBack for Communities Youth Work Fund
CASE STUDY
The CashBack Youth Work Fund, administered by YouthLink Scotland, distributes grant award funding to youth work organisations in order to provide events and activities that are developmental in nature for young people aged 10-19. In 2012/13 a total of £500,000 of cash seized from criminals was made available as part of the most recent round of the Youth Work Fund for youth work organisations across Scotland – 175 groups have received funding with further groups developing proposals in the Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles. Based on the information provided within the successful proposals, it is anticipated that as many as 33,000 young people will directly benefit from this latest CashBack Youth Work Fund investment.
Brechin Youth Project – Winter Programme Prisoner Talks
In Numbers •
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Prior to the latest round of funding, a total of £6,580,199 had been distributed between 2008 and 2011 to 641 separate organisations delivering diversionary youth work activity across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, 209,687 young people directly benefitted from this investment. YouthLink Scotland also administered the CashBack for Creativities Dance Fund in partnership with Creative Scotland. In 2011/12, 29 projects benefitted from the £100k investment, 2,174 young people directly benefitted from this investment. YouthLink are currently in the process of disseminating a further £100k this year. YouthLink Scotland also administered £500k for the CashBack for Communities Anti-Violence Fund in 2011/12, 24 innovative projects were supported which addressed issues relating to the experience or perception of violence including issues such as knife crime and gang violence, 14,243 young people directly benefitted from this investment. A full list of the awards made from round five of the CashBack for Communities Youth Work fund can be found on the CashBack pages of the YouthLink Scotland website: www.youthlinkscotland.org
14 | Autumn 2012 | The Link
Money from the CashBack Youth Work Fund was awarded to Brechin Youth Project to support their Winter Programme: Prisoner Talks initiative, in partnership with Castle Huntly. This scheme saw prisoners from Castle Huntly supported to engage with the local community and talk to young people about their personal experiences that led to them getting involved in crime and ending up in prison. Describing the success of the event, Jim Milne form the Brechin Youth Project said: “The two lads gave a very good talk on how they got involved in crime through drink and drugs, ultimately leading to a very long custodial sentence. When one said he was in his fourteenth year of his sentence it brought it all into perspective for the youngsters as this was their whole lifetime. The mix was great in that the 12-13 year olds will soon be faced with life choices and hopefully the talk will sow seeds in their minds whereas the 14-16 year olds are already at that stage in life and may already have tried a few things but hopefully doubts will now be implanted. “The project really was a win-win-win, with significant benefits for the young people, prisoners and the local community. The prison service listened to a request from their local community and both recognised and supported it. The prisoners, who are due for home release as part of the structured release programme, were able to come out into the community and make a valuable and meaningful contribution. This all resulted in the Brechin Youth Project putting on a very different event which will stay in the minds of many of the attendees for quite some time, making a real and positive difference.”
“These events are very worthwhile in terms of helping steer young people away from crime in general and we have found that the prisoners involved are always willing to help. Both men spoke about how they had felt a “buzz” whilst speaking to the youngsters and stated that if just one person was helped then it had been worth it” Allan Dewar, Programmes/Interventions Officer, HMP Open Estate
“Before making new friends you need to look carefully at what they are involved in and perhaps stay away from them.” Ross, young person from Brechin Youth Project
“The benefit to the young people is they are getting told a true story not another lecture on the subject of alcohol and drugs. The fact that the speakers have been there, seen it and done it does get through to them. The openness and informality of the talks allows them to ask questions and perhaps get answers they did not expect.” Kay, Brechin Youth Project, Youth Worker
“As I get older I will not take things if this is what can happen to you.” Mikey, young person from Brechin Youth Project
POLICY AND PARLIAMENTARY
CONSULTATION RESPONSES
SOAP BOX
In recent months, YouthLink Scotland has undertaken and completed a significant number of responses to policy and legislative consultations on behalf of its membership and the wider youth work sector. Notable consultation responses include:
Children’s Rights Bill This Bill has been considerably altered since the original consultation and moved from placing a duty on Scottish Ministers to duties across public bodies. It brings in duties regarding children’s rights and GIRFEC. A briefing paper and draft consultation response was sent to Board members, member organisations and staff for comment before being submitted.
Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill There is a connection with this Bill and the Children’s Rights Bill. In 2002 YouthLink Scotland successfully lobbied for a specific reference in the Local Government Scotland Act 2003 for the right of children and those who worked with them to be consulted in the Community Planning Process. Both research and audit reports have concluded that the engagement of young people in community planning is patchy. A draft consultation response was sent to member organisations and the Board for comment before being submitted.
Passported Benefits YouthLink Scotland’s Policy and Information Manager met with representative from membership organisations and other policy officers in August to look at the potential impacts of this and the possibility of its unintended consequences before submitting a response.
Lobbying Transparency (Scotland) Bill Whilst generally supporting the aim of the this Members’ Bill and the need for transparency in the lobbying of local and national government in Scotland, there is significant concern that the Bill could impact on the democratic process and increase bureaucracy and costs to organisations in the third sector. Professional lobbying companies could absorb or pass on costs which the third sector could not and this may lead to under-representation. If this was extended to include contact with civil servants the burden would prohibit wider engagement in policy development and could create inequalities.
Carloway Report: Reforming Scots Criminal Law This reform will have an effect on how young people who offend are treated. YouthLink Scotland took advice on this from the Scottish Child Law Centre before formally submitting a response, particularly on issues relating to the age at which a young person is regarded as an adult within the legal system.
CROSS PARTY GROUP ON CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE The highly successful and effective Cross Party Group on Children and Young People got off to a flying start in the 2012/13 Parliamentary year, with three meetings already held to look in detail at the following issues:
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The Children’s Rights Bill How We Measure Success in Young People Young People as Community Assets
The meetings for the second half of the Parliamentary Year have not yet been set, but will be announced in due course.
For more information in relation to any aspect of Policy and Parliamentary work, please contact Margaret McLeod, Policy and Information Manager on 0131 313 2488.
‘In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks’ – John Muir “In 2011 I was fortunate enough to be part of a Natural Change facilitator’s course. This project brought together four youth workers for one week at Knoydart on the west coast of Scotland. The course was based on approaches used in WWF Scotland’s Natural Change Project. The purpose of the course was to introduce theories and practices which to some may be a completely new approach to supporting a young person’s personal and social understandings. “When was the last time you played outside? I do not mean playing football, cycling etc, but real play? I am aged 42, a Dad of two and it had been a long time since I had. During my time at Knoydart I did ‘play’ outside; in the dirt, sand, and the grass. I picked up stones and sticks and my mind wandered this earth. This was part of my activities at Knoydart, through outdoor experiences with psycho-therapeutic processes and an eco-psychology framework an outcome for my experience was I had no inhibitions to play. Time spent playing also introduced thoughts of my journey past and future, and my own impact on Earth. “On a professional level I saw the benefits for young people being in a natural wild space and time away from a modern world, where they can ‘play’ outside, and through the supported frameworks of Natural Change young people will feel a sense of existence and place within their own journeys. “So I say we should all go outside, get twigs in our hair and mud under our finger nails, let’s enjoy nature as it was intended.” Marc Forrester is a Senior Practice Development Officer at YouthLink Scotland. E: mforrester@youthlinkscotland.org W: www.naturalchange.org.uk
Autumn 2012 | The Link |15
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YouthLink Scotland’s editor of THE Link is very keen to receive your comments, ideas and suggestions on the magazine. For further information contact: Julie Wilson, YouthLink Scotland, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace Edinburgh EH12 5EZ. T: 0131 313 2488. E: info@youthlinkscotland.org W: www.youthlinkscotland.org YouthLink Scotland is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in Scotland No: 164547. Charity Ref: SCO03923