Council celebrates the power of youth work this Youth Work Week 2023
Posted on 7 Nov 2023
This week is National Youth Work Week.
Taking place between the 6 – 12 November, North Ayrshire Youth Services will be out in our communities and reporting back via social media about all the incredible projects, initiatives and events happening currently to better the lives of young people in North Ayrshire!
An annual awareness week delivered by Youth Link Scotland – the theme for this year’s National Youth Work Week campaign is to highlight the importance of investing time, effort and community funding into youth work.
Social media posts will feature #ThisIsYouthWork #InvestInYouthWork #YouthWorkMatters – and young people involved in youth work who want to share their stories are encouraged to use these for their chance to be featured too.
Youth Services will be using the awareness week to meet up with and champion young people and the inspiring youth and sessional workers and volunteers already working with communities across north Ayrshire.
Young People’s Champion, Councillor Chloe Robertson shares: “It is a pleasure once again to be working alongside North Ayrshire Youth Services and our truly inspirational young people and youth workers to build a better North Ayrshire for all young people.
“I am looking forward to attending Joint Cabinet this Youth Work Week to learn more about the lived experience of our young people and better understand their point of view on issues that are important to them.
“From the candidates standing for Scottish Youth Parliament and the community groups who have put themselves out there for the latest round of #YouthPB, to the young people already volunteering their own time to collaborate with Youth Services, I would like to offer my sincere thanks.
“It is uplifting to live in a place where so many people share my own (and the Council’s vision) to put young people at the heart of every decision made across North Ayrshire where young people are concerned.”
Youth Services will also be shining a light on #youthparticipation this week as the Scottish Youth Parliament voting period officially opens today alongside the Youth PB voting platform – both via the Young Scot website: https://voting.young.scot/
Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities and Islands said: “This year, we have eight candidates across Cunninghame North And Cunninghame South looking to secure your vote and over at #YouthPB, there’s an incredible 108 community groups who are looking to secure funding of up to £1,000 per project – all with a focus on delivering for young people.
“If you know someone between eight and 25 years old, they can cast their vote(s) now for their preferred Scottish Youth Parliament candidates and Youth PB groups on the Young Scot website here: Log In | Young Scot Voting the website also has more info on the individual SYP candidate manifestos. So, what are you waiting for? It's your money and your vote, you decide!"
To make sure that young people are making the decisions on which projects matter most to them, the vote for Youth PB/Scottish Youth Parliament is only open to 8-25 year olds. Those voting will need a Young Scot Card number to be able to vote. If you need support to vote as a young person, please get in touch using youthpb@north-ayrshire.gov.uk for Youth PB and youthwork@north-ayrshire.gov.uk for SYP Elections.
There will also be the opportunity to vote for SYP and #YouthPB in schools and youth groups.
Councillor Hill adds: “It’s important to highlight that Youth work in North Ayrshire is at the forefront of the Council’s Youth Participation Strategy to make sure young people’s voices are heard and acted upon. It also plays an important role in providing safe and supportive spaces for some of our most vulnerable young residents.
“This is why it is so important this Youth Work Week to do your part. Whether you are attending Joint Cabinet, a local youth club or are thinking about casting a vote for PB or SYP via the Young Scot website, it all just starts with one small step to make a lasting and positive impact for young people you know.”
Visit North Ayrshire Youth Services on the Council webpage: Youth groups and organisations (north-ayrshire.gov.uk) for more info on how you can get involved.
Find out more about Youth Work Week 2023 on the Youth Link Scotland website.
Stay tuned to social media for updates on:
- Showcasing the power of local youth services via a series of engaging photo highlights and case studies on our social media posts mainly via Twitter (@NAYouthServices), Facebook (North Ayrshire Youth Work) and Instagram (@NAYouthServices).
- Scottish Youth Parliament elections now live: We’ll be celebrating the power of #youthparticipation at a local and national level with the launch of the Scottish Youth Parliament elections and latest Participatory Budgeting Funding rounds.
- The Council Leader and other key members of the Council Executive will meet with our audience of over 200 young people at the latest Joint Cabinet Meeting – taking place on Tuesday, 7 November at Saltcoats Town Hall. The bi-annual meeting of pupils from across North Ayrshire secondary schools will see them discuss key agenda items (identified already by young people) and the session will also be a key networking opportunity where attendees can find out more about how the Council works and what Youth Services can do for them in their locality. Key areas of discussion will include – community facilities, the ongoing Cost-of-Living crisis, mental health, climate change and equalities and the day will be facilitated by Youth Work Modern Apprentices.
- The Council Leader and members of the Council Executive will also join over 200 young people on Friday for our annual North Ayrshire Youth Conference. Held at Ardeer Community Centre, this will be a youth voice and participation event/celebration of inspiring young people who are currently involved in youth work, facilitated once more by Youth Work Modern Apprentices