Welcome to Young Scot’s Annual Report for 2010/11.

Young Scot is the national youth information and citizenship charity for Scotland. We provide young people, aged 11 - 26, with a mixture of information, ideas and incentives to help them become confident, informed and active citizens. We do this in a variety of formats, including books, magazines, online, phone, etc, so young people can access information in a way they are comfortable with.

It is our hope that the information we provide will enable them to:

  • Make informed decisions and choices.
  • Turn their ideas into action.
  • Take advantage of the opportunities available to them in Scotland and the rest of Europe.
  • Have the confidence and knowledge to take their place as active citizens in their communities – locally, nationally and globally.

EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE

At Young Scot, we are always striving to be as innovative, creative and cutting-edge as possible. And so we made the decision to make this year’s Annual Report exclusively online.

Using the range of digital tools available gives us the opportunity to communicate the positive impacts our work makes in ways that simply wouldn’t be possible in print.

So as you navigate through the Annual Report look out for video clips to watch, bits of audio to listen to and links to further information. So we’d encourage you to be curious – clicking here, there and everywhere will bring this Annual Report to life in all sorts of different ways.

Having our Annual Report online is also helping to reduce Young Scot’s carbon footprint, saving on paper and other energy resources.

HOW IT WORKS

This year’s Annual Report has been split in to sections – each focussing on one of our six key impacts. In each section you’ll find examples of relevant work which contribute towards the delivery on these impacts.

  • IMPACT ONE: A Nation of Informed Young People.
  • IMPACT TWO: Increased Opportunities for Young People.
  • IMPACT THREE: Increased Participation Levels in Projects, Activities and Decision-Making Processes.
  • IMPACT FOUR: Young People as Capacity Builders and Activists.
  • IMPACT FIVE: A Step Change in the Public Perception of Young People.
  • IMPACT SIX: Taking a Leading Role in Europe.

But don’t just take it from us! Scattered throughout the Report you’ll also find quotes and testimonials from some of our stakeholders – Scottish Government Ministers, local authority staff, key civil servants, Radio1 DJs, public sector partners and, of course, young people themselves.

You’ll also find a “Looking Ahead” section where we, erm, well, look ahead to what we’re going to be up to during 2011/12.

Navigating round the Annual Report couldn’t be easier. On the right hand side, under “Contents” you’ll find a “Quick Jump” drop down list where you can go directly to each of the sections in the Report. Alternatively, you can read each page from top-to-bottom and click on the “next page” button at the foot of the page. If at any time you want to go back, just click on “previous page” button or, if you want to go back to the very start, click on the title “Annual Report 2010/2011”.

At the side of the page, you’ll also find direct links to our partners’ websites, downloadable versions on our Board and Financial Reports, as well as the option to hit print and get the full text version of the Report.

HAPPY READING!

The 12 months this Report covers, April 2010 to March 2011, were busy, action-packed, and exciting and we hope you enjoy reading, watching and hearing all about the positive impacts we’ve been making for Scotland’s young people.

If you have any comments, feedback, thoughts or just really good jokes, please get in touch and share them with us. All the contact details you need are at the bottom of the page.

Happy reading!

Hello From The Chair

Alan J Blackie

Alan J. Blackie, Chair of Young Scot

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Find out more about the Young Scot Board and Advisory Forum

Dialogue Youth: Young Scot’s Local Authority Network

Dialogue Youth logo

Young Scot works with a range of partners, from national government to organisations in the public, private and voluntary sector. You can see these listed on the right-hand-side, with direct links to their sites.

Crucial to the way Young Scot works is our partnership with all 32 local authorities in Scotland, through the Dialogue Youth network. Working closely with COSLA, local authorities and their Community Planning Partners, helps us to give young people the information that will allow them to be more informed and active citizens within their local community.

The Dialogue Youth Partnership allows:

  • Young people to have their voices heard at both a local and national level
  • Young people have the opportunity to engage,inform and influence local services to suit their needs
  • It ensures that Young Scot services are accessible, relevant, and flexible for young people to access
  • Information tailored to the needs of young people. For example, young people have the chance to localise pages on the Young Scot website, the card has specific local discounts and the first 16-pages of the Young Scot handbook are personalised with info, opportunities, and signposting to local services

Here’s just one example of the hard working that is going on across the country

In Renfrewshire we are working with young people to make sure they have access to all the right information they may need and events going on in the local area and beyond. Our goal is to enable young people to become better, healthier and more active young Scots, not to mention have a little fun along the way! We are building strong partnerships with various organisations to make access to services as quick and easy as possible. We try and make sure everything we are doing is informed by and often led by young Scots all the way.

We currently promote the Young Scot National Entitlement Card, run regular youth clubs with a wide range of fun activities, support citizenship based groups and organise seasonal activities, provide easier access to sport and healthy activities, produce a youth e-newsletter to support information sharing with partners, and support young people through various award schemes. We are always on the lookout for volunteers and have started our Young Leaders programme, offering young people training in working with other young people and building up confidence and interest in their community.”

Tony Lawler, Renfrewshire Dialogue Youth

Young Scot would like to say a massive thank you to everyone working in communities across Scotland to deliver such positive outcomes for Scotland’s young people.

Our Services

Infoline - Our free and confidential information line received over 10,000 calls last year.Online - Over half a million hits on our website every month.NEC Cards - There is over 400,000 cardholders in Scotland.Young Scot Magazine - Over 500,000 copies distributed every quater in Scotland’s biggest newspaper the Sunday Mail.Young Scot Handbook’s - Sent out to all 32 local authorities in Scotland for young people starting high school.What’s On Where (WOW), www.youngscotwow.org, is the youth opportunities search engine for Scotland.Outreach - Engaged with over 28,000 young people last year.

Our Values

Young Scot’s values define what type of organistaion we strive to be. They play an integral part of the daily working lives of our staff and in the way we deliver all our services and projects.

We are innovative!

We are responsive!

We are supportive!

We are passionate!

We are inspirational!