Tag: news

community

All 16 -18-year-olds please get out and vote next Thursday 7th May in the Scottish Parliamentary Elections:

bighosie

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 7th 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 30th 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.

community

Easter Programme 2026, Community arts and new orchards on the Canals and the Presentation of Youth Awards

bighosie

Easter Programme 2026:

The clocks have gone forward, and the nights are therefore lighter and with spring hopefully around the corner, I am very pleased to announce our Easter Twilight Sports and holiday activity Programme.  The focus will be the three local public parks, and the programme is detailed below: its open to all 10–16-year old’s and is completely free. I would like to acknowledge our funders Fairer Falkirk’s School holiday food and activity fund along with our local funders Camelon Community Sports Hub and the Falkirk Flight community grant  provided by Mackenzie Construction. The programme will include: fun football, rollerblading with the wonderful Falkirk Wheelers , nature-based activities, tree planting and some creativity and with everyone receiving a snack and drink. We will be joined by Forth Environment Link (FEL) and their Dr Bike service, so please bring your bike down to your local park for a health check and any repairs, provided they are not major, will be carried out by FELs skilled bike mechanics.   

Climate Action Event:

SCYAP hosted and coordinated a very successful young people’s climate action event on Friday 6th March in Tamfourhill Community Hub. This was supported by FEL, TCV Scotland, CVS Falkirk and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. A series of hands-on  workshops and activities were enjoyed by the  young people who responded positively to this experiential approach to learning  about climate change and how we can take local actions to mitigate the challenges and damage caused by global warming and the resultant climate crises. The workshops included: the smoothie and energy creating bikes, building birds nesting boxes, an interactive stall about red squirrels, designing plant pots and planting sunflower seeds , sustainable food activities and a workshop looking at personal experiences of climate change at a local community level.     

Creating Totem Poles for the Active Travel Route along the Canal.

Throughout March our attention has been focused upon the top canal through Tamfourhill. This   has engaged groups of young people with planting fruit trees to create two new community orchards and has also kick started the beginning of our new community arts and active travel project. Through funding provided by @WalkWheelCycle and in partnership with Scottish Canals the Tamfourhill Totem Pole Trail will constitute a 1 km active travel trail connected by ten distinct totem poles placed along the active travel route through Tamfourhill. These totem poles will be a structural and illustrative celebration of the local wildlife that is found along the route and will also provide pointers and visual suggestions to encourage people to engage in different activities as they follow along the active travel route  by either foot or by wheels. Interestingly this route also forms a section of the John  Muir Way and therefore the  themes of conservation and enjoying nature are particularly relevant to this community arts project. To date our Creative Climate Action Group have been  taking part in  workshops that involved them with designing patterns and images based upon local wildlife and plants that you find around and within the canal and  also looking at informal  games using nature that  younger children play when outdoors. The two groups from the local primary schools have been creating  Land  Art installations,  some of which are  on the canal towpath, and these creations utilising natural materials will form an integral part of the final totem pole designs. This project will continue to be developed over the Easter holidays and beyond with installation hopefully happening in early May. The plan is to then have a celebratory opening of these new art installations along with an active travel event in the spring. Key facets of  this young person led arts project are the promotion of active travels role as a positive climate action, its significant contribution to good mental wellbeing and physical health whilst also taking  a  creative approach to local young people’s commitment  to  Stand up for Nature.

The SCYAP Blog for March is all about the canals, community arts, climate actions and the presentation of youth awards. And off course details about our Easter Programme and Twilight Sports 2026.

Youth Awards for Youth Participation

And finally, it is a real pleasure to announce the presentations of several youth awards for young people who had regularly taken part in the Youth Participation project from August through to December 2025. Shona Craig who is the Secretary of the Tamfourhill Tenants and Resident’s Organisation performed the master of ceremonies on Thursday 19th March when the certificates were awarded at the Tamfourhill Community Hub. These young people have shown a serious and sustained commitment to local youth action through the youth participation project and its absolutely appropriate that they receive the plaudits and recognition from the community for all their efforts and positive impacts. Ten Dynamic Youth Awards, including a 3- star award and several 2- star awards were made , along with three High Five awards and four Saltire National Volunteering Awards. Well done to every one of you, an amazing achievement #Youthaction.

community

Empowering young people to have an effective voice

bighosie

#RightSpaceFuture

A key outcome for the Youth Action Project is that we encourage and support young people to grow as active citizens, express their voices and enable change. Underpinning this is working with young people to build their confidence and  facilitating opportunities where they can also develop a wide array of social skills. Our communities thrive when we have active and committed people who are confident to speak up and take responsibility and actions for the  development and improvement  of their local  areas. This in essence is about community empowerment and ownership and our Youth Action approach is very much focused upon supporting and enabling  local young people to be active citizens and community activists.  Our recent Youth Action Group meeting with the MSP for Falkirk West Michael Mathieson and the SNP  prospective candidate for our constituency and  local councillor Gary Bouse was an important opportunity for young people to speak up about their priorities for the future of their community and indeed Scotland. We aligned last Mondays meeting with the launch of the youth work sector in Scotland’s national manifesto 2026 #RightSpaceFuture  and which coincides with the campaigning process for the Scottish parliamentary elections scheduled for the 7th of May 2026.  This made the flow of  the discussion both local and national and young people were able to present their recent youth action work in Tamfourhill and Camelon  via the photo display which had been prepared by young people  at the Twilight sports session on the preceding Friday evening

As highlighted in last month’s Blog the Scottish  Youth Sector manifesto states three national commitments: https://www.youthlink.scot/wp-content/uploads/Youth-Work-Manifesto-2026.pdf

  1. A Right – A Legal Right to Youth Work for All Young People
    Every young person should have an entitlement in law to access youth work services, regardless of postcode, background, or income.
  1. A Space – Universal Access to Spaces for Youth Work
    Guarantee free, fair, and consistent access to public spaces – such as schools, leisure centres, and community venues – for youth work providers, and create new, dedicated youth spaces in every community.
  1. A Future – Sustained and Increased Investment in Youth Work
    Implement fair funding principles with ring-fenced, multi-year funding at both national and local level, rebuilding the workforce and ensuring long-term stability.

The key responses from our elected members  at the YAG meeting, included:

  • Our MSP Micheal Mathieson  emphasised the importance  of youth work ; upstream, early interventions and preventative and the role that youth work  plays  in diverting younger people from youth justice. This is an important  observation and echoes the manifestos reference to youth work not being a cost but an effective solution.
  • For youth work to be a legal right for all young people would require legislation being passed  through parliament and therefore  a legal definition of what was youth work would need to be agreed and established.  Although this could be problematic and cover everything from uniformed organisations to employment services it did seem absolutely feasible to SCYAP that a legal and defining status could be confirmed for the  profession of youth work.
  • Matters relating to SCYAP and access to the school estate for our Twilight  sports provision was taken up by Councillor Bouse and this was discussed within the wider context of the  manifestos national commitment for  universal access to  spaces within communities for youth work. There were specific particulars that we discussed about the use  of sports halls for inline skating, and issues relating to the asset transfer of community buildings to the community and the transference of the schools gymnasiums back to the council. These transfers were both highlighted as important considerations for future access for youth work and sports activities. It was agreed that we would enter further discussions with GB and Falkirk Council with this particular access matter.  
  • Funding was agreed to  underpin the three manifesto commitments and without strategic ring-fenced funding there is no ability to  have a Right to youth work and you wouldn’t be able to access community spaces. MM emphasised how the three commitments were intrinsically linked. SCYAP raised the Cash Back to Communities funding and sought an explanation as to why a tranche of this resource could not be allocated for  long-term strategic funding which could be accessed by smaller grassroots community-based youth work providers. This would necessitate  a change to the  income threshold criteria for making an application. MM will meet and discuss this with the Justice  Secretary and get back to SCYAP,  
  • The role of youth work in schools both locally and nationally was raised and SCYAP asked that  this  contribution to the Scottish Attainment Challenge should be recognised by government and reflected in additional funding being allocated and ring fenced for this area of important work. This aspect was also presented within the manifestos commitment to sustained and increased investment in youth work.

The meeting closed with an interesting presentation of SCYAP Youth action projects and the  photo display led by the attendant members of the Youth Action group. We are  now looking forward to receiving written responses from Michael and Gary detailing their commitment to advancing aspects of the Youth Work manifesto.  

Peer Mentoring Project

Leo Cierpikowski our young volunteer who is progressing his Gold Youth Achievement Award has been leading our Peer Mentoring Project. This has been a fantastic area of SCYAP work  and I would like to congratulate Leo on his planning , preparation and delivery of the first three project sessions. Leo is a brilliant role model, and he has been inspirational for the mentees who are taking a journey using creativity to reflect on their transitions from primary to High School .  This is not an  art class but a creative and mindful way to explore  sensitive issues and to encourage peer support through a significant phase of a young persons life. This Project has been resourced by Youth Scotland with training being delivered  in partnership with an organisation called  Place2Be  ,and  it’s really worth having a look at their website: https://www.place2be.org.uk/

Climate Action Event

SCYAP has been supporting climate action groups in both local schools and the community, and this has involved standing up for nature, a sustainable food growing project , planting trees and bulbs, creativity with the pom poms workshops and now the start of the Active Travel Totem poles project along the  top canal in Tamfourhill. This work has been made possible through collaborations and funding provided by Forth Environment Link and Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.

We are now bringing these themes together through the work of the Community Climate Action Plan Core Group by holding a young people’s Climate Action Event on Friday 6th March from 4pm -6.30pm in Tamfourhill Community Hub. This will be a fun way for 10–16-year-olds to take part in activities and workshops which are themed on climate action and tackling climate change. There will be: Growing and planting activities, the smoothie bike and sustainable energy bike, building bird nesting boxes, fruit kebabs and hot dogs, workshops about cleaner greener jobs and discussing experiences of climate change locally and other activities. I would like to thank our partners at FEL and TCV for supporting this event , its all free and you just turn up and take part.   

Next month I will be highlighting our Easter Programme 2026 and introducing a new Porject aimed at 10–12-year-olds in the community.

community

#RightSpaceFuture

bighosie

A guid new year to everyone and our first blog of 2026 considers some long-term priorities  for young people living throughout Scotland. This could be a pivotal year for Scotland and its public services and with our national elections coming up in May we need to ensure that young peoples futures are at the centre of government policy and that resources are committed to achieving their best potential as active and empowered citizens.   

Scotland’s Youth Work Sector have recently  published a manifesto entitled A Right, A Space, A Future which outlines three national commitments Scotland must make to ensure every young person can thrive through access to high-quality youth work. Together, they represent the foundation of a stronger, fairer youth work system: guaranteed by law, universally accessible, and sustained by investment. 

The Three National Commitments:

  1. A Right – A Legal Right to Youth Work for All Young People
    Every young person should have an entitlement in law to access youth work services, regardless of postcode, background, or income.
  1. A Space – Universal Access to Spaces for Youth Work
    Guarantee free, fair, and consistent access to public spaces – such as schools, leisure centres, and community venues – for youth work providers, and create new, dedicated youth spaces in every community.
  1. A Future – Sustained and Increased Investment in Youth Work
    Implement fair funding principles with ring-fenced, multi-year funding at both national and local level, rebuilding the workforce and ensuring long-term stability.

We are all to aware at SCYAP how precarious our funding base can be, especially  as we await the outcome of our submission for continuation funding from the National Lottery. We should also acknowledge that our Project only exits because local community activists through the TTRO have given a voluntary  commitment to supporting Youth Action in their local area and that this provision is essentially autonomous and self-financing. The notion therefore of youth work being a legal and statutory right for all young people would be a massive undertaking by government, however we also need to be honest about the type of Scotland we want  to live in. If we want our young people and communities to thrive , be empowered , excellently educated , tackling massive issues like sustainability and climate change then we require our elected representatives  to enable that through the right policy decisions and actions. A significant part of that would be the candidates for Mays Scottish General elections to respond positively to these three national commitments laid out in the  manifesto and giving assurances of how they will support and progress these massive youth work commitments.  

SCYAP is planning to  meet with our  MSPs and councillors in mid-February to progress these  matters and we will support young people to be part of that process, and I will report on the outcomes of these meetings in next months  blog.  

Let’s ponder these comments:

Juliet Harris, Director, Together, the children’s rights alliance : 

“Recognising youth work as a legal entitlement would be a vital step in delivering Scotland’s commitments under the UNCRC. It would ensure that every young person, wherever they live and whatever their background, has fair and equal access to the support they need to thrive.” 

David Kennedy, General Secretary, Scottish Police Federation, : 

“A single youth worker can do far more for a young person than any type of enforcement. That’s why ‘A Right, A Space, A Future matters, it’s about prevention, safety and hope. The Scottish Police Federation fully support this manifesto as we must have sustained investment in youth work.” 

The full manifesto can be read here:

Click to access Youth-Work-Manifesto-2026.pdf

Young Person led Climate Action in January 2026

Standing up for and helping nature have been the key themes for the new year with our climate action groups at Carmuirs and Easter Carmuirs Primary Schools being out and about  in the local parks and woodlands and  quite often in very challenging weather conditions. Planting pollinator bulbs in Easter Carmuirs Park and the Tamfourhill woods along with making bird feeders from recycled plastic bottles and some toad abodes in the Well Wild Woods have been the key activities for this month. We are always keen to encourage creativity and the arts in all aspects of the SCYAP, so we very much enjoyed the pom poms workshops that were carried out by Sarah our community artist. This involved every young person attaching labels to their pom poms stating a personal commitment to take climate action, and these included: Planting a tree in the garden, organising a litter pick, using less plastic and having their own drinks bottles to avoid single use plastics.       

New Opportunities with Youth Scotland

We are really  pleased to have received resources and support from Youth Scotland to implement a couple of short-term projects with young people. Firstly,  through a Grassroots Youth Work Award we have begun working with a group of P7 from Carmuirs primary School. This groupwork programme will be looking at risk taking and community safety issues and will also be an accredited programme with the young people gaining Dynamic Youth Awards. The programme kicked off  at the Well Wild Project last Thursday with a session focused upon personal accountability.

Peer Mentoring Project:

In addition,  we currently have a young volunteer  undertaking his Gold Youth Achievement Award and this involves him delivering a Peer Mentoring Project. I have been supporting Leo throughout January to plan this programme with the delivery stage starting in mid-February. There will be  a focus of looking at the transition  from P7 to High School and a small group of mentees will travel this journey creatively over a five-week programme. Youth Scotland have provided training and resources for this Programme to happen, and this is an excellent example of how national and local collaborations can improve the lives for young people within their own communities.

Twilight Sports Winter Programme

The Programme continues through January and February every Friday from 6pm-8pm in Tamfourhill Community Hub , with Dr Bike in attendance on Friday 30th January and 20th February. Its all free for 10-16 year olds.

community

The past has been a great success, and the future remains unwritten

bighosie

So once again we are drawing to the end of another year, 2025 has been a very busy year and at times overwhelming through the levels and range of Youth Action that has been undertaken. There is no need to review the youth work as it has been detailed on our monthly blogs which has kept all interested parties updated and fully informed.  I would however want to highlight some important data and figures as detailed below which illustrate the outputs and hard successes of SCYAP in 2025: 

SCYAP Key data and outputs 2025Download

In reporting back this month to Foundation Scotland on the completion of our three-year  grant award . I commented that:  The funding provided through Foundation Scotland has contributed to young people gaining confidence, abilities and the skills to make lasting positive change in their community. A Youth Action approach was successfully delivered which has the dual benefits of improving young people’s connections with the local community whilst also advancing their own personal and social development. The funding leaves a legacy and the potential to build on existing success and further support young people’s contributions to the development and improvement of Camelon and Tamfourhill and to better prepare them for advancing through life as active citizens.

The notion of legacy and the potential for further Youth Action are both embedded within these end of grant conclusions, and the challenge for me and the TTRO is to now secure further funding and resources to take the SCYAP beyond this year and into the future. We are optimistic and it will not be for a lack of effort and commitment in what is a very competitive funding world. Being a small voluntary organisation can often feel like you are in an unstable and short-term reality, but it also enables greater levels of flexibility , creativity and localism that are simply not afforded to local councils, health boards or other public bodies

The young people who took part in the  Youth Participation Project were involved with their own end of Project evaluation this month. An opportunity for them to reflect upon their own experiences, what they had enjoyed and leant in the process and contribute to the feedback required to the funders. This Project was funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is managed by Falkirk Council, so it was a fixed  term short project, and it was therefore important that a legacy was left in terms of local Youth Action. In that respect we have ten Dynamic Youth Awards and two High 5 Awards pending and a couple of Saltire awards  and the Article 31: The Right to Play mural boards are now fully installed at the Games Court in Easter Carmuirs. Notable feedback indicated that the young people really enjoyed attending the Lock 16  open day in September where they led their own stall , Article 31 activities and consultation process and also engaged with the general public and the other partners. I personally would like to praise the group very highly for that day , they were exceptional and a great credit to their peers and the community. OUTSTANDING !!!   

In the short term in 2026 we will  continue to support the work of the two-schools based Climate Action Groups at Carmuirs and Easter Carmuirs Primary Schools. This will be augmented by the formation of a community focused Youth Climate Action Group with all three working towards young peoples  agreed priorities for climate action as detailed in the report published in  April 2025. Work began with the schools in November and along with the  YAG they  will gain pace through  January and February. This work has been made possible through the funding received from FEL and their next steps climate action fund.  

The second phase of the Twilight Sports programme  begins on Friday 16th January 6pm-8pm in Tamfourhill Community Hub , the full programme is detailed below. Although we haven’t been quite as busy as previous winter programmes we do have a high energy and loud group attending every week. Thank you to our sessional staff, coaches and our volunteers, its been especially rewarding to  see two young volunteers giving up their Friday nights to come along and make the Twilight sports a resounding success.

Finally, a thank you to the colleagues and partners  who have contributed  to our end of year evaluations , completing surveys and discussing projects, this is an important aspect to planning future work and indeed sustaining the Safer Communities Youth Action Project.

community

Twilight Sports Winter  Programme , Youth Participation in October  and our Awards ceremony:

bighosie

The Clocks have gone back, and the nights are fare drawing in and that means it’s time for the SCYAP Twilight Sports Winter Programme to begin, which again this year will be hosted by Tamfourhill Community Hub. I would like to convey our thanks and gratitude to the Camelon Community Sports Hub who awarded us a grant a few months back to cover our winter programme 2025/26.

This funding injection from the Camelon Sports Hub  coincides with the ending of our 3 years funding from the Falkirk Community Schools Fund 2008 ,which has been the main source of support for all of our youth action programmes and activities and not least the Twilight Sports Programme. This funding support has been in place since the Twilights Sports was established after an initial pilot phase back in  2022 . Having met with the Falkirk Schools Fund Trustees relatively recently we are unclear when further funding from them will become available and indeed whether a continuing application would be successful or not. At this stage we can only thank the Falkirk Schools fund for their significant financial commitment over the previous 3-year period and also be equally grateful that the local community sport Hub similarly recognises the  worth and benefits of this unique form of community-based youth provision. The longer-term aim is to be able to sustain and further develop the programme over the next few years. I will of course keep the community and all our partners and stakeholders  updated with all potential options and  developments. For the time being lets  look forward to a 12-week winter indoor programme starting on Friday 31st October as detailed below and with the full involvement of our partners the Falkirk Wheelers , FEL, our young football coach, the regular volunteers and staff and the fantastic support from Tamfourhill Community Hub.

The October holidays afforded lots of opportunities to progress both the Youth Participation Project and the interlinked Right to Play Article 31 activities  over at the Games Court in Easter Carmuirs. An initial game of rounders involving 12 local young people and 3 members of staff got the ball rolling in many directions. We chalked up different methods for choosing teams and getting games started, and the game of rounders was nonstop laughter and some competitiveness as eventually  bad light stopped play. We reconvened for three days on the 15th, 16th and 17th October and began the process of taking the ideas from the Rounders evening and converting them into hand painted decorative signage which will now be mounted onto the Games Court perimeter fencing. Oot Skoot you are oot, Rock, paper scissors, knots and crosses and a new scoreboard for the cage will all feature along with some of the play images created by the Participation group through their consultation event at Lock 16 back in September.

Our Volunteering Matters Action Earth Project made significant progress in Easter Carmuirs park on Monday 13th October where  our volunteers Rachel and Alex led on a very busy bat and bug box building workshop. Six new boxes were constructed involving 12 volunteers, mainly young people and younger children  but also a couple of family teams. It was also really positive that most of the SCYAP volunteers  took part in the Green Action Trusts Neighbourhood trees project through a workshop conducted around the park. We would like to convey our thanks to our colleagues at Under the Trees who  made a huge contribution to a successful Wild Connections Falkirk’s Greener Future locally in the Easter Carmuirs Public Park.

The outdoor learning theme for this week was also explored and enjoyed by members of our Youth Participation Group who spent an afternoon at the Well Wild Project in the Rough Castle Woods. The Group learnt how to build and start a fire with flint and steel and then how to manage that fire safely to cook a chicken casserole. Using tools was another feature of the session and we also made time  for some nature therapy and off course time to play in the woods and reminding ourselves of Article 31 the Right to Play and to play safely and manage risks.  

On Thursday 16th we held a wonderful Youth  Awards ceremony for family and friends at Tamfourhill Community Hub. Well done and a massive congratulations to all the young people who received their Youth Awards Certificates at the Awards ceremony. High 5, Dynamic & Youth achievement and Saltire Awards. A very sincere well done from everybody at SCYAP, the TTRO and Tamfourhill Community Hub. Most of these awards were gained through young people’s  involvement over the Summer Programme 2025 but there was also some longer-term outstanding volunteering commitments being recognised and it was with a sense of personal pride and joy that we made all of these awards. What an amazing group of young people all committed to Youth Action and developing their own skills, knowledge and experiences. Youth Scotland

And finally, as always I like to conclude on a happy note, I am therefore very  excited to announce that the SCYAP funding application to FEL Climate Action Next Steps fund was successful. This was a strong application based on the implementation of our Community Climate Action Plan and the priorities and key themes identified by young people themselves at  our climate action events held back in February and March of this year. Its very uplifting to recognise that FEL have supported our climate action events and the work of the Climate Action Core Group over the last 3 years and have now further invested in the young people of Tamfourhill, Camelon  and Bantaskin to make significant positive contributions to local climate action.

community

The Right to Play, Youth Participation and Climate Week

bighosie

SCYAP was successful in securing a Community Empowerment Grant  from Falkirk Council which is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. As a Youth Action Project we were keen to encourage further youth participation and to link that with wider community developments. The key aspects of a  Youth Participation approach , include; Taking part, young people having a say and being listened to , being involved with decision making, being  involved through your own choice, contributing to the community, enjoying activities and working with others and gaining national youth awards. Our new Youth Participation Project was targeted initially at young people who were not regularly involved with any of our previous or ongoing youth action activities and the programme began with an introduction and programme planning session at the end of August

A Dynamic Youth Award programme has begun and includes a wide variety of challenging activities which focus on teamwork, decision making, skills development and community involvement . Creativity and outdoor learning feature significantly throughout the programme and the Group had a brilliant day when they attended the recent Scottish Canals Open Day which was held at the  old Barrs factory in Tamfourhill.  This open day was an opportunity for Scottish canals and their partners at Historic Environment Scotland  to showcase the traditional  skills and the Centre  for Excellence that will operate from this building. The Open Day  also provided a unique opportunity for our  Youth Participation Group to contribute through their interactive games stall which promoted Article 31 of UNRC: The Right to Play  

UNCRC Article 31

I have a right to rest, relax and play

Adults should make sure children have the chance to play and relax in a safe, supportive and stimulating environment.

Governments should make sure children can be part of cultural and artistic activities.

When decisions are made about activities in the community, adults should include children in planning these.

Want to come out to play?

Our commitment to the  promotion of  Article 31 is being further explored through the second strand of our Youth Participation  project: A series of arts  drop-in sessions will take place at the games court on Mariner Avenue in Easter Carmuirs on the 15th, 16th and 17th October. If you are between 10-18 years old please pop along in the afternoon between 1pm-4pm, perhaps play some games, tell us about the rules and then design and build signposts and boards which illustrate these games. Part of this process will be involved with the design of new box seating for the Cage , and the process kicks  off next Wednesday 8th October at 5.30pm when you can come down for a game of rounders, get some free hot dogs and also tell us about the games and sports that are played at the Cage. This community arts aspect  of the Participation Project is aligned to proposals highlighted within the Camelon Community Action Plan in relation to improving communal spaces and increasing opportunities  for local young people.  

Scotland’s national climate week runs from 29th September until 5th October, and this is an opportunity to consider what climate action we can support and take which will contribute to tackling climate change and making our communities greener and sustainable.

Climate Week is an important awareness raising tool and to coincide with this I am very pleased to announce that we will be beginning the process of reinstating the community orchard that was recently decimated on the canal towpath next to Camelon Juniors football ground. We are extremely grateful to Scottish Canals who have found resources to replace the heritage fruit trees and the support of their Environment manager with the process of preparing the ground and the planting of the replacement orchard. We will be working on the towpath on Thursday 2nd October with the Carmuirs Youth Action Group who worked so hard and took so much pride with the planting of the original orchard back in February

Following on from the reinstatement of the Camelon Community Orchard we are excited  to partner with Under the Trees Outdoor Learning for an event called Wild Connections: Falkirk’s Greener Future that will bring a whole host of climate related activities to Easter Carmuirs Park on Monday 13th October from 1pm-4pm. SCYAP through funding accessed from Volunteering Matters Action Earth will provide volunteering opportunities to build and decorate bat and bug boxes. Forth Climate Forest will deliver a Neighbourhood trees workshop and Under the Trees have a climate scavenger quiz with prizes, crayon recycling on the campfire and acorn planting and a climate lab with climate experiments to explore. Although this is a young person led event the whole community are invited to participate, and the only restriction is that under 10’s must be accompanied by an adult of 16+ years old

And finally , SCYAP is overjoyed to acknowledge that we have 24 National Youth Award Certificates to present to young people , these in the main were gained through taking part on various activities during our Summer Programme 2025.  The overnight survival programme, community arts  project and its Stand up for Nature theme, the angling project and the wonderful active travel mural and arts installation at Camelon Railway Station. This included two Silver Youth Achievement Awards for our young youth action volunteers Leo and Victoria, my congratulations to you all, an outstanding achievement.

community

Light Nights and Twilight Sports and the launch of the Camelon CAP

bighosie

The seasons seem to move so quickly and with the arrival of the lighter nights and with such an amazing spring we have speedily arrived at the start of this year’s Twilight Sports Programme. We  look forward to  welcoming lots of regular faces and hopefully plenty of new ones to the opening session on Friday 30th May 6pm-9pm in Easter Carmuirs park. Once again we will have the Falkirk Wheelers providing the Skating and the football  being provided in conjunction with Stenhousemuir FC Community Foundation. The full programme is detailed below and over the 12 weeks we will have all the usual big games , food and drink , a monthly barbecue, nature based and creative activities and Forth Environment Links  Dr Bike in attendance for 6 weeks of the programme providing their fabulous bike maintenance service. Dr Bike along with our regular visits from the Fire and Rescue Service and community police officers are  reminders of this programmes community safety approach. The origins of the Twilights sports are to be found in the Our Place Community Safety Strategy for Camelon and Tamfourhill and we continue to align the Twilight Programme to that purpose. This is achieved  through  providing local young people a safe place to socialise, take part  in games and  sport , form positive relationships  with the different services and link into other community learning opportunities all on Friday nights in local public parks.

The Community safety strategy remains a relevant framework for supporting wider  local Youth Action, and that has been reflected over the last six months with the SCYAP and local young people’s  ongoing role and involvement  with developing and  confirming the Camelon Community Action Plan. The Falkirk Community Planning Partnership describes  a community action plan (CAP) as a participatory tool that helps community members identify and address the problems, needs, and potential within their community. It also aims to encourage community involvement and management of their environment. A community action plan can include various programs and activities that are designed to improve the quality of life and well-being of the community The Camelon CAP was officially launched last Tuesday evening 20TH May in the Forth Valley Sensory Centre and it was an amazing experience for some of the young people involved with SCYAP , along with members of our Youth Action Group , young people from the local primary schools, staff and volunteers to all attend the multi-agency community launch and provide three youth action stalls.  I cannot praise the young people highly enough, they were brilliant ambassadors for their peers, schools, youth project and the community and they provided a real sense of community participation throughout the event. The Link to the Camelon CAP is below:

Click to access CamCAP-Apr2025.pdf

Our Community artist was also in attendance at the launch and aligned to the CAP ethos and its engagement process we showcased our two big community arts and environmental improvement projects. The nature, active travel mural and totem pole installations for  Camelon Railway  Station were well received by the leader of the Council and the representatives of the other organisations and the mural in particular also received lots of interest from local people. The benches and planter for Easter Carmuirs Park  was also very  popular and people got a chance to add their decorative prints to a scaled version of the bench. There is a diary of sessions and workshops for community involvement and participation  with the Railway  Station project , young people  just turn up at the workshops at Tamfourhill Community Hub and the sessions at the railway station will  operate on a drop-in basis. The plan is to hold an official  opening of the Railway station art installations along with an  active travel day in mid-July, and we will off course publicise that day’s events and how you can get involved. I would like to personally thank Scotrail for their funding towards this project and the support of Network Rail.  

programme details community arts at Camelon Railway stationDownload

Our third stall was presented by our young volunteer Leo Cierpikowski and highlighted and celebrated our various Youth Awards programmes and activities. Leo himself has recently begun his Silver Youth Achievement Award after successfully gaining his Bronze. His Silver challenge is focussed upon further  developing his leadership skills and community involvement. This young man is an outstanding role model and community activist and can have a significant leadership role with the relvevant aspects of the Camelon CAP.    

The SCYAP Summer Programme 2025 is scheduled to begin on July 4th, and it will be a programme that includes creativity, community projects, outdoor learning and an overnight survival experience, canal-based activities and lots of summer fun in the park. In next month’s blog I will publish the full programme and details of how to get booked onto the sessions.

community

A Fabulous Fun February ,Falkirk Wheelers wronged and  Camelon has its first Community Orchard

bighosie

Twilight Sports

The Twilight Sports Winter Programme was operational through November 2024 until the last session on Friday 21st February 2025 in Tamfourhill Community Hub . Once again, I would like to highlight that we were unable to operate the second half of the Winter indoor Programme from Easter Carmuirs Primary School and I am aware that many young  people have missed out as a consequence of that situation. The Falkirk Wheelers, as many local people will be aware, have been prevented from using the halls and gymnasiums on the Councils school estate, and despite their best efforts and the pressures of others to get this erroneous decision overturned they continue to be unable to make use of these  facilities. The SCYAP continues to support the Falkirk Wheelers, and we will get involved with any future public demonstrations that campaign to get this access reinstated. We are however very grateful to the Tamfourhill Community Hub committee for their ongoing support through  making their centre available for our use on a Friday night despite all the building improvements and new net zero  energy technologies that are being installed. The Twilight  Sports programme continued to be well attended with young people developing great skills and confidence on the wheels along with their footballing skills and this has been noted by  the respective sports coaches. The social and developmental aspects of engaging with healthy  activities in a safe and supportive environment is clearly valued by local young people and their families. My thanks therefore to the Wheelers and our new football coach Ewan at the Stenhousemuir Community Foundation. There has also been significant contributions from our young Twilight Sports volunteers and it’s great to see them all undertaking Youth Awards as  part of their volunteering  involvement.

SCYAP Angling Group

The angling Group eventually got  their opportunity to take part in  a coach led session at Magiscroft Coarse Fishery, this was after a third classroom-based session where they had learnt about different species and their anatomies, baits and ground baits and how to set up their rods and reels. This preparation and learning was evident at the fishery, however the freezing cold and snowy conditions made for very difficult angling conditions. The group were using  whips prior to practicing their casting with a rod and reel set up. The very cold-water conditions discourage the fish from feeding but despite these adverse circumstances every young person managed to catch at least one fish , including some  nice sized roach and a roach bream hybrid. Our thanks to Gus and John from the Scottish Federation of Coarse Angling , these guys are exceptional anglers and a fountain of knowledge on all matters angling. The Group will continue to meet for learning sessions, go on  further angling trips and  complete their Youth Awards. This Project very much illustrates that learning can be enjoyable , social and take place in so many diverse contexts.

Outdoor learning and nature therapy

We have formed a fruitful partnership with the Well Wild-A therapeutic approach to Forest School & Bushcraft  based in the Rough Castle Woods, and this has facilitated a wide array of learning opportunities and the development of core skills for the young people we work with. The activities are really focused on core interpersonal and social  attributes , including, communication, trust, resilience and teamwork and our partnership has opened up these opportunities to a wider array of local young people. Our close involvement with the local primary schools has enabled the Youth Action Project to better achieve its key outcomes of better connecting young people with their local community and to deliver accredited learning opportunities. In addition, this February we also had our own Youth Award  Group participating in bushcraft and survival activities which have facilitated  positive relationship building and improved confidence in wider learning for these young people. An outstanding feature of working with the Well Wild Project is the therapeutic and reflective qualities that are facilitated through young peoples engagement with the natural environment. Often it is those quiet almost spiritual moments that instil an understanding and appreciation of nature and a sense of individual wellbeing that young people will take with them throughout their lives.  And into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my sole: John Muir  I would really like to thank John Wells for his empathetic and flexible approach at his Well Wild Project it has enabled the SCYAP to support young people achieve their various  personal targets on their development journey to achieving various youth awards. 

Community Orchard Planted in Camelon:

SCYAP are supporting a small group of boys from P6 at Carmuirs Primary School to gain a Dynamic Youth Award with a challenge that involves them getting more involved with and improving their local community. Recently with the support of the Environmental Manager at Scottish Canals we were able to create a new community orchard on the towpath of the Forth and Clyde canal near to lock 16. The Group worked tirelessly as they  prepared the ground, digging the holes, planting the  fruit trees and putting in the compost. This is a magnificent legacy for these young people and the community will be able to pick their own fruit as they make use of the canal and the towpath.  This is a community development project facilitated though local Youth Action and is fully aligned to our Community Climate Action Plan. This then is an appropriate point to conclude this blog and  a useful means to highlight next month’s main blog topic of reviewing our three Climate Action Events. I will then next month be able to confirm  young people’s priorities for tackling climate change in Tamfourhill ,Bantaskin and Camelon.  

community

Please support the proposed Youth Work (Scotland) Bill , here is how

bighosie

A happy and guid new year to everyone.

I want to start our first blog of the new  year by emphasising the importance of youth work  and the positive  contributions it makes to both young people and the wider community. I have spent the last year writing Blogs that highlight  the successes of our Youth Action Projects and activities and the benefits to both the young people and the community. At every opportunity I have flagged up and reiterated that our Youth Action approach is underpinned by the dual benefits it affords to young people and the wider community.  In this respect I want to encourage as many people as possible to contribute to the consultation that is currently taking place in relation to  the proposed Youth Work (Scotland) Bill. This is a Private Members Bill, and it will therefore require after the consultation process is completed, the support of at least 18 cross Party MSPS’s, after which the  proposals will move through the 3-stage scrutiny process before eventually coming before our parliament, to hopefully be confirmed as a new Act. The deadline to respond to the consultation is 31st March 2025:  Here is the link to the draft Bill and the consultation:   https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/proposals-for-bills/proposed-youth-work-scotland-bill

The Safer Communities Youth Action Project is concerned and completely focussed upon achieving these key outcomes:

  • Young People will have better connections with the wider community
  • Young people will improve their mental and physical health and wellbeing
  • Young people will have increased opportunities to take part in activities that address community safety and reduces their risk taking.
  • Young people will increase their social skills, confidence to learn and levels of attainment.
  • Young people will grow as active citizens, expressing their voice and enabling change.

I am advocating that the adoption of this Bill into Scots law will provide a legal basis and a mandatory commitment for our services, agencies, community organisations and governments to ensure these key outcomes and similar aspirations are delivered universally throughout  Scotland. I am being overtly political and requesting your support for this Bill through responding to the consultation, and here are some of the reasons I believe this is a good idea for both our young people and our communities:  

The Key Objectives of the proposed Bill would include:

  1. Universal Access: Mandating youth work services to be available to all young people aged 11–25, with particular focus on targeted support for disadvantaged groups.  
  1. Equity and Fairness: Breaking down systemic barriers to ensure youth work is inclusive and accessible, regardless of geography or background. 
  1. Sustainability: Establishing a dedicated Youth Work Fund to ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery across Scotland.  

The Bill mandates that local authorities develop comprehensive Youth Work strategies that align with a National Youth Work Strategy and address the specific needs of their communities.

These strategies will be required to:

• Reflect the voices of young people, involving them directly in shaping

services.

• Respect young people’s rights under the UN Convention on the Rights

of the Child (UNCRC) by ensuring their right to participate, develop,

and access support.

• Integrate youth work with broader community services, including

education, health, and social care, for a holistic approach.

• Establish sustainable funding models to maintain resilient and

adaptable youth work services

The alignment between our own key outcomes and the above proposed strategies are both consistent and complimentary.  

The consultation asks questions around a number of themes relating to the Bill, firstly it asks the reasons why we believe legislation is required, SCYAP responded:

There is a need for Youth work to be a statutory service and to have professional parity with other educational and social work provisions, and this is required consistently throughout Scotland. It will ensure that the voices and contributions of young people have a statutory footing, especially in terms of how future services are resourced, planned, provided and delivered. Youth Empowerment will in effect be embedded in law and statute. 

Secondly the cost and financial  impacts upon other public services and  businesses of making  Youth work a legal right for every young  Scot with its own ring-fenced mandatory budget  is questioned, SCYAP highlighted the following:

 Making strategic and sustained investments in youth work and ensuring that young people’s services are delivered collaboratively and in partnership will make significant savings to other public sector budgets, including Health, Criminal justice and education. The contributions of young people will have significant financial benefits to the wider community and most importantly much of this will be social capital through improved community cohesion and active citizenship.

How would this proposed Bill relate to and impact upon equalities, SCYAP Stated:

This Bill would require to be inclusive and remove barriers to involvement whether they are by age, gender, poverty, race, geography, sexual orientation and so on. The Law would by necessity have to mitigate exclusion and ensure that all sectors of the youth population were able to access appropriate services and opportunities equitably and on their own terms. 

A new law can impact on work to protect and enhance the environment, achieve a sustainable economy, and create a strong, healthy, and just society for future generations, How should this Bill relate to sustainability and protecting the environment, SCYAP highlighted

Undoubtedly there will be an impact upon the environment and the aim of improved sustainability, this Bill will need to give cognizance to Scotland’s journey to Net Zero whilst also aiming to create a tolerant, inclusive and equitable society. Youth work needs to champion these values and aspirations, and this Bill must be an enabler of these conditions and standards. The Bill should be concerned with promoting young people’s involvement with the outdoors, of its therapeutic values and our responsibility to conserve and facilitate environmental improvements. Climate action should be a central facet of all community-based youth activities, and this should be aligned to a strategic climate action commitment

 Any finally , SCYAP offered a summary statement of support:

This is a unique opportunity to enshrine youth empowerment and youth action in Scottish statute and it should be progressed. Scotland can be greatly improved nation through active engagement with young people and by communities taking greater ownership of their own development. This Bill must embrace those values through a national strategic commitment to youth work and youth action. Funding should be ring fenced and protected for this to happen; however, it should be devolved to local decision making as much as possible and avoid a recentralization of control by Local authorities. The third sector can play a crucial role, and funding needs to be sensitive to local dynamics and opportunities which can include young people making significant budgetary decisions.

Finally, a reminder that our Twilight Sport programme continues throughout  January and into February and won’t be interrupted by the installation of the Tamfourhill Community  Hubs new low carbon energy and heating  system and upgraded with new toilets. The full programme is below:

In next month’s blog I hope to be able to introduce 2 new community development  projects for Camelon and a review of recent groupwork with local young people.