Here is why :

As I write this blog we are eight  days out from Scotland’s Parliamentary Elections and off course many sixteen-year-olds will  be voting in their fist ever election. This is highly significant from the perspective  of Youth Action and Empowerment, and it will be no surprise to anyone that SCYAP fully supports and indeed celebrates that  Scotland extended the democratic franchise to all 16-year old’s domicile and resident  in our country. Why is it important that sixteen-year-olds can vote ? We know some of our population are against this age group participating, however it ensures that critically important factors impacting upon our young people’s lives are given the priority and full attention that they merit. Education is a massive issue, and it seems  unreasonable that those people who are the  most impacted in terms of their futures and their learning needs and aspirations should be excluded from having a meaningful opinion and effective say in policy  decisions about their education. Similarly, youth work  and community  provisions are of particular relevance to young people, and they should therefore have the ability  to organise themselves politically and have a collective voice ensuring that  their perspectives are listened to and given consideration by everyone involved with forming and delivering  our social and economic policies and making the  big political decisions. I am not suggesting that 16–18-year-olds are a monolithic and homogeneous block and its undoubtable that social class and inequality impact  massively  on their opportunities and life experiences, and I would further  suggest that it is those most disadvantaged both economically and socially who most need an effective and strong collective voice.  What seems to many to be a basic right , i.e. free public transport on buses for those under 22 years of age is currently being opposed on the spurious basis that it encourages young people  to cause anti-social behaviour. Free travel on buses enables students to get to university and college, young people to their workplace and the ability to move around and be mobile. Off course those from  lower  incomes will benefit the most from  this social service and this provision is therefore a good example of addressing inequality whilst also taking a positive climate action. Young people, especially those most disadvantaged by inequalities urgently require a  political voice with this particular matter, along with other policy areas that have a focus upon their lives and the opportunities that are available to them  or not. The youth work sector has a key role to play in addressing these inequalities by age, gender and social class and SCYAP’s recent involvement with the #RightSpaceFuture national youth work  manifesto was a non-Party  based campaign which we felt that we should highlight and also support  local young people’s engagement with this manifestos  key commitments. We also  lobbied some of  our local elected representatives and prospective candidates for these upcoming  Scottish parliament elections and requested commitments from them that  if they were in  government that they would move the manifestos  key commitments forward.  SCYAP also raised specific concerns about the Cash Back to Communities Funds  and how these  were being  awarded to larger corporate organisations and that insufficient of that money was trickling down to grasroots community youth work. Although we have had a response from a civil servant we don’t accept that explanation and this is another young person focused issue and another clear example of why 16 -18-year-olds should get  out and scare the horses and vote next  Thursday 7^th May.

The Carmuirs Community Safety Group

SCYAP in collaboration with Carmuirs Primary School and the Well Wild Project and through funding accessed from Youth Scotland has been working with a group of P7  boys with  a focus upon community safety and personal accountability. This has been a really good experience with  the young people learning a wide array of social  skills and gaining the confidence to deal with sensitive issues in an honest, open and constructive  manner. The programme involved the group making a positive difference to their  own community, taking responsibility for making environmental improvements and being excellent role models for their peers. This was especially  evident with their paddle pick up where they cleared bags of rubbish from  the canal along with 4 footballs. The skills of resilience, taking responsibility for their own actions and managing risks were all essential to their successful sessions at the Well Wild Project. Last week’s survival  simulation the group were exceptional, putting into practice all of these skills they had been learning:   communications, teamwork, decision making and working  under pressure. The Group have taken part in a substance use and risk workshop  ,  learnt practical skills in cooking and undertook  group challenges  in the Tamfourhill woods. It was really great to  see them making use  of the local community centre and attending SCYAP  Easter programme activities in the community. The final week of the programme will be an evaluation and reflection session  which will  take place on the 30^{th of} April and then they will have time to complete their Dynamic Youth Awards and an  opportunity to acknowledge  each other’s achievements and celebrate their successes.     

If you go down to the woods on 4th of May:

And finally:  We are having a young volunteers day on Monday 4th May from 12 noon to 4pm meeting at Tamfourhill Community Hub and we will be working on our new planters in the woods. This is part of our local climate action plan and encouraging biodiversity and producing sustainable food. This is suitable for 10–16-year-olds with a Barbecue and refreshments being provided. For further details please contact john@ttrohub.co.uk or 07391524528.