Executive Group Item 13
Youth on the Move Flagship Initiative
Purpose
1.
To inform the Executive Group about the European Commission’s Flagship Initiative
entitled ‘Youth on the Move’ which is aimed at helping to achieve the EU2020 headline
targets of reducing the share of early school leavers and improving youth employability.
In addition, this paper outlines areas for COSLA’s future lobbying activities on European
Youth issues, including the future youth programme which is likely to provide future
funding opportunities for councils.
Recommendations
2.
The Executive Group is invited to:
i.
Note the launch of the EU2020 Flagship Initiative ‘Youth on the Move’ and its key
actions;
ii.
Provide comments and views, and eventually endorse COSLA’s position on the
European Youth Programme;
iii.
Suggest priorities for COSLA in relation to the accompanying consultation on EU
funding programmes fostering learning mobility and education post 2013;
iv.
Provide a general endorsement to the examples of best practice set out in Annex
1;
v.
Encourage Councils to continue to work with COSLA on sharing knowledge on this
issue so as to be able to draw upon the opportunities available for young people in
Scotland through EU initiatiatives; and
vi.
Note that COSLA will be working with the Scottish Government, Youthlink and
other partners at a national level to take these initiatives forward.
Background
3.
In order for the EU to define where it wants to be by 2020, the Commission has
proposed a number of EU headline targets in its EU 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable
and inclusive growth. This EU 2020 Strategy consists of seven flagship initiatives to
implement the 2020 Strategy, one of which includes the flagship initiative entitled, “Youth
on the Move”. The aim of this flagship initiative is to help young people gain the
knowledge, skills and experience they need to obtain their first job. In addition, it is
aimed at reaching the headline targets of reducing early school leavers to under 10%
across the EU and achieving a target of having at least 40% of the younger generation
holding a tertiary degree.
4.
Further, the goal of Youth on the Move is to help Member States reach the headline EU
target for 75% employment over the next ten years by supporting them to ensure that
young people have the right skills for the jobs of tomorrow, given that the current
challenges of the economic crisis have meant that the number of young people looking
for a job has increased from 4 to 5 million with youth unemployment reaching nearly
21% across the EU.
Content
5.
The Youth on the Move initiative focuses on four main lines of action through lifelong
learning, raising the percentage of young people participating in higher education,
supporting learning mobility through programmes and initiatives, and a ‘new’ EU
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framework for youth employment improving the employment situation of young people.
To do this, Youth on the Move proposes 28 key actions aimed at making education and
training more relevant to young people's needs and encouraging more of them to take
advantage of EU grants to study or train in another country to increase their
employability and access to the labour market.
6.
Amongst these actions are :

Establish a systematic monitoring of the situation of young people not in
employment, education or training (NEETs – although this is not a term now used
in Scotland) as a support to policy development and mutual learning in this field.

Launch of a dedicated Youth on the Move website, which will provide a single point
of access to information about opportunities to study or gain work experience
abroad, including advice about EU grants and individual rights.

A pilot project "Your first EURES job" will provide advice, job search and financial
support to young jobseekers who want to work abroad and to companies particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.

A mobility scoreboard will benchmark and measure progress in removing legal and
technical obstacles to learning mobility.

The Commission is examining, in cooperation with the European Investment Bank,
the creation of a European student lending facility to support students who wish to
study or train abroad.

A Youth on the Move card, which would provide benefits and discounts for young
people.

A new European Vacancy Monitor will provide an intelligence system on labour
market demand across Europe for jobseekers and employment advisors. The
launch is planned later this year.

The Commission's new European Progress Micro-finance Facility will provide
financial support to help young entrepreneurs set up or develop their businesses.

It will encourage Member States to introduce a youth guarantee to ensure all
young people are in a job, training or work experience within four months of leaving
school.

One of the most important actions is a public consultation on learning mobility and
education programmes for post-2013 which will be a tool to support the EU 2020
Strategy and the EU Youth Strategy ‘Investing and Empowering’. In the next
programming period, the Commission would like to see European Social Fund
(ESF) support linked even more closely to the policy priorities of the Integrated
Guidelines and the EU and national employment and education targets of Europe
2020.
Draft COSLA response
7.
Among the list of issues/challenges that the Commission outlines to be addressed post
2013 are demographic change (ageing population, changing intergenerational
relationships), and youth unemployment and the changing needs of the labour market
(new skills for new jobs) remains highly relevant for the future European Youth
programme. In addition, other issues are recognition of discriminatory, racist,
xenophobic behaviours among young people, recognition of social exclusion of
disadvantaged young people and the declining levels of youth active participation in
democratic life. Members’ comments on these issues and suggestions for others are
invited.
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8.
The EU Commission has also included ‘non-formal learning’ as an issue in the future
programme which would also help address a lot of the challenges that have been raised.
This form of learning refers to learning which takes place outside the formal educational
curriculum that involves young people on a voluntary basis to foster their personal and
social development with a close link to their needs, aspirations and interests.
9.
We recognise that young people facing difficulties (e.g. due to poverty, educational
problems, unemployment, disabilities, etc.) should remain a primary target group without
excluding other young people. Therefore, we believe this programme can benefit local
communities beyond their actual beneficiaries to provide added value.
10.
As a whole, we intend to highlight the close link between poor attainment at school and
socio-economic disadvantage which are key determinants to the number of young
people neither employed nor in education or training. This is because breaking this cycle
is a challenge for local and regional authorities across Europe and must be seen as a
priority within any future initiative.
11.
While this initiative may be an opportunity for local government to access new EU
money, an initial reading of its key action raises some question. We believe for example
that local authorities would not wish to be monitored and would want to avoid pontential
duplication of existing Scottish initiatives e.g. Young Scot Cards.
Next Steps
12. In terms of where this new initiative lies within the ongoing EU Budget Review, the
Commission will examine, together with the Member States and the regions, how to
better support youth employment, educational opportunities and higher education
infrastructure through other structural and cohesion funds, in particular the European
Regional Development Fund. The COSLA Brussels Office is actively engaged in these
discussions particularly via our EU umbrella, the CEMR (Council of European
Municipalities and Regions), as well as the Scottish MEPs and CoR members. We are
keen to work with the Commission using the below examples in order to scope how this
EU Flagship Initiative could be implemented at local level.
13.
COSLA intends to work through the EDUC (Education and Culture) Commission of the
Committee of the Regions’ that are drafting the final position on this initiative with other
representatives from Local and Regional Authorities and other relevant stakeholders to
exert influence and reflect Scottish circumstances.
14.
COSLA is also working closely with the Scottish Government at a national level to
ensure that Councils will be able to tap into the possibilities available for young people in
Scotland through this EU initiative and other areas of development.
Conclusion
15. Members’ comments and suggestions are welcomed on this paper in terms of how the
interests of Scottish councils are reflected at an EU level.
Elfreda Whitty
EU Adviser
[email protected]
00 322 2138 120
Mike Callaghan
Policy Manager
[email protected]
0131 474 9264
18 November 2010
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Annex I
Good Practice Examples Featuring Local Authorities
HMIe Inspection Reports Relating to Youth and Community Work
Aberdeen City Area
The Drugs Action project community learning and development staff had developed a partnership
approach to work on drugs issues in the community. They worked jointly using detached work,
small group work, and advice and information sessions to support vulnerable young people
experiencing drug dependency in changing their lifestyle. The work included the provision of
needle exchange facilities combined with counselling and referral and was focused on reducing
harm to the individual and to the community.
The Chess Development Project addressed young people’s literacy and numeracy needs as part
of their learning experience. The project offered opportunities to develop critical thinking,
improvement in verbal reasoning and development of reading skills. In preparation learning
materials, staff took full account of the overall needs of individual learners. The project had raised
self-esteem among young people and improved their attainment levels. Teachers reported
improved concentration and behaviour among participants who had been experiencing difficulties.
Angus Area
Community Learning and Development in Brechin and the Angus Glens
The authority was committed to enhancing the personal and social development of young people
through their involvement in projects such as youth councils. Eight councils had been established,
each of which contributed three members to the Angus Youth Congress. The CES had trained
young people in he use of PowerPoint to improve their presentation skills. Youth councils used
videoconference facilities to facilitate communications. These facilities had enabled young people
to be involved in a national youth summit and to plan an international exchange.
Angus Youth Congress and members of Angus Council had made a successful bid to establish the
dialogue Youth Project. This ambitious project had already secured premises in Forfar for a onestop youth base. It gave young people access to computers and the internet. Satellite units were
planed so that each youth council area would have on-line access to the base in Forfar and to the
national Young Scot website. The project’s links with the Young Scot initiative were intended to
provide every young person from 12-18 years with access to information and to discounts at local
stores.
Members of youth councils gathered votes of young people across Angus. They used methods
including questionnaires, graffiti walls, video boxes and interviews. The information collected was
forwarded to the Angus Youth Congress. The congress set up sub-groups to address the most
prominent issues, which were lack of facilities, link with the police, transport and drugs including
alcohol. The alcohol sub-group worked in partnership with the police to organise and alcohol-free
evening at a local night-club. The youth congress made a presentation on the initiatives to the
Young Scot conference in Edinburgh. This resulted in Angus being selected as the rural pilot area
for the smarter Young Scot card.
Community Learning and Development in Forfar
No 1 for Youth promoted a wide range of learning opportunities, information and advice through
attractive publicity and the Angus Youth Information Portal. This high street shop was welcoming
and attractive both internal and externally. The project’s links with the Young Scot initiative was
very successful and most young people in secondary schools used the Young Scot card, which
gave proof of age, local discounts in shop, leisure centres and libraries and would soon include
arts and cultural services. The project enabled young people to access a health drop in, which
provided individual advice and discussion on a wide range of health issues. The youth workers
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were welcoming, enthusiastic and related well to the wide range of young people including some
vulnerable young people with additional needs. These services successfully supported young
people’s personal and social development.
The streetworkers in Gallowshade had developed effective strategies to contact and work with
disaffected groups of young people. They provided soup from a flask when touring the area, which
was appreciated by all the young people. This created a welcoming atmosphere that was
conductive to conversation and relationship building. Groups of young people encountered on the
streets were invited to put forward three “planning members” to work with the youth workers to
plan activities for their peers. Young people viewed a position on the planning group as having
status and as such these positions were in demand. These planning group members met at the
community house and worked constructively without being disruptive. Further contact was made at
school at lunch times when the three young people could use the telephone to book facilities. This
work was proving effective in reducing nuisance behaviour and engaging disaffected young
people. The local community valued and supported the project. Young people felt empowered by
their involvement in planning and developed valuable personal, social and core skills.
Angus council agreed to support a national pilot aimed at engaging young people with politics and
voting. The pilot was supported by the Electoral Commission, Young Scot and the Scottish Youth
Parliament. A group of young people, calling themselves The Custard Team, planed and delivered
a well attended and imaginative youth consultation day called Who want to be a Loudmouth? The
Custards Team’s planning and preparations included a residential experience and discussion with
community planning partners. Young actors presented sketches that illustrated issues in the live of
young people in Angus. An e-voting system was used to gather the views of young people about
these issues. The technology enabled young people’s views to be analysed and presented as the
basis for discussion with officer of the local authority and their community planning partners.
Young people’s participation in this process raised their understanding of citizenship and local
democracy.
Inverclyde Area
Community Learning and Development in East Inverclyde
The service used part-time outreach youth workers very effectively to support youth provision.
These workers ensured that each youth club was visited at least once every session to provide
support, information and resources. They provided a quick response to any requests and
encouraged the development of challenging activities. They also ensured that sessional staff was
made aware of national initiative and developments. Sessional youth staff felt that they were
supported effectively and valued by the service. CEW time was freed up to develop new initiatives.
The Inverclyde Youth Strategy was at the heart of community education practice within the
inspection area. The authority had negotiated the strategy with young people and encouraged
further review. The strategy identified themes that were used to improve the quality of existing
youth provision and provide priorities for new developments. Youth club programmes were
designed to address the themes in the strategy. A standard planning proforma used for this
purpose encouraged staff to justify each club activity. This approach gave staff of all levels a clear
sense of purpose and direction and ensured a high quality of provision.
East Dunbartonshire Area
Community Learning and Development in Hillhead, Kirkintilloch
The Replies Youth Information Project based in the youth wing of Hillhead CEC operated a drop-in
service in the centre youth wing. The youth wing had been decorated and furnished to be
attractive to young people. A good resource bank covered a wide range of relevant topics, which
was extended by use of the Internet. The project was notable for providing a drop-in service to
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local schools and for the provision of a 24 hour help-line. These facilities greatly enhanced access
to information.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Area
Community Learning and Development in Lewis and Harris
The pointers Youth Café had set aside a mobile telephone booth where young people had agreed
to make and take all of their calls. This ensured that disruption to other users was kept to a
minimum. The area used was designed to be a reminiscent of a normal telephone booth and staff
used this space to display a range of information and guidance sources. This innovative approach
drew young people's attention to information they might otherwise have missed. It enabled them to
view information privately and, where appropriate, they could make telephone calls to relevant
helplines.
Community Learning and Development in the Western Isles
The joint Assessment Support Team (JAST) at Sgoil Lionacleit identified a need to engage young
people living in Balivanich. The JAST identified the CES and Health Promotion as the key
agencies to take forward this initiative. Through a process of consultation with young people a
series of relevant activities and events were organised and Balivanich Youth Group was formed.
This group produced a video/DVD about young people’s lives in Balivanich which they showed to
service providers. As a result, the group now has a part-time paid youth working and is in the
process of converting premises into a youth centre. The have linked up with young people in
London and a production company to undertake a joint video project on what it is like for young
people to grow up in two very different communities in the UK. These young people had grown in
confidence and self-esteem, improved their communication sills, and has a more positive attitude
to their local community.
BNSF and Dialogue Youth staff supported Lewis Youth Council to plan a youth conference.
Members of the youth council identified that young people were confused and disillusioned with
local, national and European electoral systems. The theme of the conference was active
citizenship and democracy. It aimed to encourage young people to become actively involved within
their local community by illustrating to them how democracy works and how they can have their
voices heard. One hundred young people in S5 and S6 at the Nicholson institute attended the
conference as well as local elected members, MSPs and senior officers from CNES. Staff used an
e-voting system similar to the equipment used in a popular television series to ask questions
focusing on healthy lifestyles, access to service and active citizenship. Following participation in
the conference 81% of young people understood better how to participate in a democracy and
74% were now more likely to vote.
Stirling Area
Inspection of Standards and Quality
The team had run an innovative course for parents to introduce them to the principles of youth
work and to assist them in supporting young people. This arose as part of the team's support for
the development of youth provision that would meet the needs and aspirations of young people in
Killin. The young people had taken the initiative in approaching the team to seek support. About a
dozen parents were now working with the young people in planning the development of provision
and the team was maintaining a helpful overview. The initiative gave the young people very good
opportunities to extend their decision-making and organisation skills within a safe but challenging
setting and promoted a beneficial approach to youth provision between them and their parents.
Senior members of the Kinlochard Youth Club made a major contribution to managing and staffing
the club. They had participated in the Youth Work Trainee Project, which trained young club
leaders. The senior members were working towards their Youth Achievement Award. They were
also supporting younger member in achieving the ‘Dynamic Youth Award’. The young leader had
acquired two computers with internet access, which they used to support younger members with
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their school homework. The club management committee and the rural team supported the senior
members well in taking on these responsibilities. The young people were acquiring important
social skill through this involvement.
Community Learning and Development in Areas of Regeneration
Staff supported young people in Crowe to participate in local community planning. They did this in
innovative ways by recruiting and training six local young people as ‘Youth Future Agents’. The
Youth Future Agents organised a local community-planning event for over one hundred young
people. This event allowed young people the opportunity to consider the future of the community.
They successfully identified and prioritised key local issues. This contributed to the development of
the local community plan. Building on this event, the young people worked with community
planning partners to secure resources to develop significant youth services in the area. The impact
that his work had on the ‘Youth Future Agents’ was considerable. The young people had
developed their core skill and gained in self-confidence. The learning experience gained through
Youth Futures had enabled them to move into further education, training and employment.
Compass for Life (Compass) is an ESG-funded partnership initiative, which supports young people
in the Stirling area to overcome significant barriers that prevent their participation in the economic,
cultural and social life of the area. Compass tackles the challenges of social exclusion head on by
enabling young people ages 14-25 to identify and deal with their barriers to participation and take
practical steps towards a successful transition into employment and active citizenship. It does this
by bringing together a wide range of services and agencies into one effective partnership
committed to meeting the needs of the most vulnerable young people in the Stirling area. This
project built cohesion amongst existing services through developing innovative new services and
way of working. Compass demonstrated that true local partnership working can and does
significantly impact on the lives of young people by enabling them to gain access to further
learning, employment and housing, Central to the whole project is the concept that young people
should be able to access services and support within their own communities, To facilitate this, the
project operates from premises in Callander, Cornton, Cowie, Cultenhove and Stirling city centre.
Shetland Islands Area
Community Learning and Development in South Mainland
Shetland has a high incidence of death and serious injury amongst young people as a result of
road accidents. The CLDS developed a partnership with local college of further education, police
and local volunteers and secured funding to deliver "First Gear", a programme for 15 to 17 year
olds aimed at developing positive and responsible attitude to driving. The 30 hour programme
covered vehicle control, care and maintenance, rights and responsibilities. As well as the course
content, young people learned new and transferable social skills. Following the success of the pilot
course with nine young people in South Mainland, the CLDS was now rolling out the course across
Shetland.
Vandalism and graffiti were a constant problem in the girl’s toilet at Sandwick Youth and
Community Centre. A group of S1 and S2 girls decided to address the problem and set up a
refurbishment project under the “Dynamic Youth” programme operated by Youth Scotland. With
the help of CLDS youth workers the girls drew up a project plan and secured funding for materials
and training. The girls completed the tiling and grouting, painted walls, toilet sears and doors, and
designed mirrors and a feature ceiling. They used blackboard paint to provide surfaces for
removable graffiti on the back of toilet doors. The girls organised a very successful official opening
attended by the local MSP. The toilets have not been vandalised since then and the girls had
moved on with CLDS youth workers to other challenging projects.
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Dundee City Area
Community Learning and Development in the Ardler, Charleston and Lochee Areas
Young people had been fully involved in the design and development of the Twa Semis project. It
catered for children and young people, including unusually, young adults aged 18 to 21. Young
people of secondary school age had produced a high quality video on the dangers of drug misuse.
They had engaged effectively with older people in the community to produce a play based on local
history. A recently opened Internet facility in the premises had been funded from a range of
sources including a local technology company. Young people had a strong sense of pride in "their
club" and very good relationships with youth workers. They reported significant gains in their ability
to work with others and improvement in their self-confidence and communication.
Young people had developed websites for YES and The Corner. These website provided ready
access to information and links to other relevant sites. Internet access at local youth venues
empowered young people to obtain information about a wide range of youth issues including drugs
and alcohol awareness, bereavement advice, information on career, employment and training, and
dealing with homelessness. Overall, ICT was being used very effectively to promote learning and
inclusion for young people.
The Corner and The Shore provided very good learning opportunities in an accessible city-centre
location. The Corner offered sexual health advice and information to over 9000 young people in
2003-2004. 70% of who came from priority areas. The Shore provided a dynamic youth venue for
11-18 year olds. It offered alternatives to exclusion and risk-taking behaviours through an exciting
and diverse programme. Both projects provided a very effective foundation for other initiative with
young people throughout the city.
North Lanarkshire Area
Community Learning and Development in the Airdrie North Area
FTZ, the Friendly Information Zone is a sexual health service for young people operating one
evening each week from the @Home Centre in Airdrie. Using the Health Improvement Fund,
partners from health and the CLDS consulted young people on the layout and design of the facility
and involved young people in interviewing for medical staff. Two young people work within the
service and other have delivered workshops about their experience in developing the service.
Over 1100 young people have used the service over a two year period, some of whom were fasttracked to family planning or GU Medicine services.
Drama teachers from the local high school held taster session for young people in the @Home
Centre in various arts activities. Young people lobbied the Centre Manager to support a more
regular drama group and the Factory of Arts and Contemporary Theatre (FACT) group was
established. This group was supported by volunteers who were also high school teachers. The
group worked on challenging subjects identified by young people such as drugs, sex, sexuality,
bullying and peer pressure. The group had established a junior section where senior members
support their younger peers in drama and performance. Over 100 young people took part each
week in activities that improved their self-esteem and confidence and built core skill such as
communication and working with others.
Some previously negative perceptions about living in Caldercruix have been significantly shifted by
the work of the Caldercruix Youth and Community Development Project. The project was very
effective in engaging with all section of the community, including young people. It used a variety of
engagement and consultation methods including street work, surveys, open days and public
meetings. It kept the community involved and informed about development through open meetings
and a high quality community newsletter. The project played the key role in tackling of sectarian
graffiti on the gable end of a local shop. Through their worker, the young people responsible were
encouraged to think about the issues and to consider solutions. The resultant mural on the shop
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wall has remained unaffected by graffiti. Young people now have increased access to the
community centre and have helped to develop a £250,000 state of the art skateboard and activity
area. The incidence of vandalism at the community centre had reduced and there has been no
vandalism at the play area.
Clackmannashire Area
Youth work as part of Community Learning and Development
CCS staff in the Glasshouse music project had successfully developed a very effective system of
peer tutoring to develop confidence and impart skill to young rock musicians. Several of the
original project participants now acted as peer tutors to young participants. The used their musical
and technical expertise to assist young people in the development of their music. They were also
able to help and support the participants in the mechanics of recording their music in the form of
demonstration tapes. They had played a key role in assisting groups of young people to organise
and participate in showcase events. The use of the peer tutors has substantially increased the
number of participants and bands involved in the project. The CSS staff tutor had very effectively
developed a network of peer tutors in the project. Peer tutors had also gained a wealth of practical
knowledge and expertise as a result of their involvement. This had helped some of the older peer
tutors to progress to university-level courses in music and sound production.
The CCS had developed a highly imaginative partnership with Alloa FC on the theme of youth
citizenship. This build increased community identification by young people with their local
community and its institutions. Staff from both CCS and Alloa FC used a variety of effective
techniques to engage excluded young people. The programme involved challenging and changing
young people’s perceptions of their local community. This was achieved through targeted work on
anti-racism and healthy lifestyles that challenged the existing behaviours of young people. The
results were significant improvements for young people, the club and the wider community. The
largely elderly supporters of the club who previously had limited contact with young people now
viewed them in a positive light. For the first time, the club had allowed young people to choose
their ‘Player of the Year’. The young people chose the club’s only black player for their award. The
club noted that there had been a significant increase in young people attending their home
matches and young people now represented 20% of the weekly attendance. The football club was
now looking to increase its involvement with local schools as a result of this work.
Dumfries and Galloway Area
Community Learning and Development in Dumfries Area
The Youth Enquiry Service (YES) had received repeated requests from local young people for
help in establishing a lesbian, gay and bisexual youth group locally. Once established, the Phoenix
Group designed and delivered awareness raising sessions aimed at relevant organisations
working with young people. Phoenix volunteers presented their experiences of growing up locally.
This project has resulted in staff at the YES, and the young people involved with valuable
knowledge and insight into establishing such a group, and in improving the lives of young people
who may feel isolated or are experiencing homophobic bullying.
The Oasis Youth Management Committee set up a project to develop skills for the music industry,
including establishing their own record company “OYC Records”. The project provided training
workshops open to musicians and young people, facilitated by records industry professionals.
These included musicianship, individual instrument workshops, stage techniques, working in
groups, promoting events, legal issues, marketing and distribution. The project also established a
website and produced a CD featuring local bands and artists. The project did not aim to produce
stars, but to mature young people’s personal development through music. However with the help
of the project, one young musician had been offered a management contract.
Larkhall South Lanarkshire Area
Trialling new "How Good is Our Community" Learning and Development
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By working with a range of partners Youth Learning Service staff had successful coordinated and
supported young people to produce a video raising environmental issues and encouraging more
responsible use of the Morgan Glen. This resulted in staff organising and running a local music
and dance event featuring local young people from Larkhall. In addition to learning video
production techniques young people were supported and encourage to take full responsibility for
devising the programme, promotion and organisation for the performance event and to perform in
it. Partner organisation made effective contributions ranging from providing assistance and
expertise around health and safety risk assessments, on-site facilities, security and transport
through to Strathclyde Police funding the costumes for the dance performance group. Young
people fully participated in debriefing meetings with partner agencies after the event and a group
of young people were actively involved in planning a similar project for 2006. As a result of
participating, young people reported increased self-confidence and of feeling more involved in their
own community. In addition some of the young people are now applying the skills and techniques
acquired with support from Larkhall Universal Connection to raise public awareness of
environmental issues within Larkhall.
Community Learning and Development in Blantyre and North Hamilton Area
The South Lanarkshire Youth Strategy was one of seven key themes within the Community Plan.
Young people had been extensively consulted in its preparation. The main public agencies
providing services for young people were partners in the Corporate Connection Board which
monitored the implementation of the strategy’s action plan. Young people were represented on the
Board through the South Lanarkshire Youth Council which was very active and was well supported
by Youth Learning Services. Young people from the Youth Council also attended South
Lanarkshire Community Planning Partnership meeting and representatives were active in the
Scottish Youth Parliament. Council elected members and officers of public agencies ensured that
young people’s views were very influential in shaping priorities for service delivery.
Falkirk Area
Community Learning and Development in Central Falkirk
The CES training team had led the development of a core youth work training programme across
Scotland, working in partnership with the Community Education Training Network. The pack was
used by nineteen local authorities and a number of national youth organisations. The programme
drew together all of the key areas requires for training sessional staff and volunteers. Falkirk CES
requires all new sessional youth work staff to attend and encourages current staff to take up
places. Accreditation through SWA and endorsement by CeVe were being sought. The
implementation of this programme was having a significant positive impact on the quality of youth
work provision.
West Lothian Area
Building Democratic Literacies
The Building Democratic Literacies model engaged young people in meaningful dialogue, debate
and action, particularly in relation to the pupil council candidate training programme. CLD and
social policy staff developed comprehensive training and support materials and delivered the
training to staff and pupils in all West Lothian secondary schools. Each pupil council had a named
CLD link officer to deliver ongoing support to pupils and staff. As a result of this model there were
significant numbers of young people who understood the decision making process and were
confident enough to engage in this process at a local, county, national and international level.
Glasgow City Area
Good Practice in Pollok and Pollokshaws
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The Friday Night Initiative at Pollok Library and Leisure Centre was initially developed through
community safety funding for diversionary youth activities. Street work teams made contact with
those young people who were traditionally hardest to reach. A multi-agency team of youth
workers, librarians, sports coaches, police officers and youth justice workers planned the project to
offer young people attractive alternatives to hanging around the streets. Young people have been
consulted about future programmes during school holidays, outdoor education opportunities and
youth health services. Young people and local police officers reported reductions in the incidence
of youth disorder and more young people were making use of the library and leisure facilities than
before.
North Ayrshire Area
Community Learning and Development in Saltcoats, Stevenston and Ardrossan
The Caley Centre engaged with young people in innovative and creative ways. It enabled young
people to access high quality multi-media resources such as digital based music, web design,
photography and video. Through workshops, tutorials and group discussion, participants with little
or no experience learned new skills from each other and from highly trained staff. The Volunteer
and Peer education group and the drop in DJ Jam offered workshops and experiential learning
session in ICT and digital music to youth and community groups. Young people involved in the
Caley Centre clearly identified the benefits of being involved in projects such as the Big Gig and
the Caley Phonic Spree in term of managing and planning events, marketing and technical
recording skills.
West Dunbartonshire Area
Community Learning and Development in South Clydebank
Youth outreach workers had systematically engaged with young people who were hanging about
high flats in the Whitecrooks area of Clydebank. They had secured the confidence of these young
people and, with them, had established a youth facility in a communal area at the foot of one of the
high rise blocks. Teenage boys and young men had formed a club committee that programmed
the activities of the group. Activities included informal learning about issues such as alcohol, drugs
and sectarianism. These young people had developed their self-confidence and communication
skills and were planning to deliver a summer programme for other young people in the area.
Highlands Area
Community Learning and Development in West Inverness
Young people from the inspection area have participated in Highland Youth Voice since its
inception in October 2000. The Highland Youth Voice is an elected parliament of young people
from throughout the Highlands. The parliament promotes active citizenship, involvement and
participation. Young people are encouraged to voice their opinions and take direct action on issues
of concern. Staff supports young people to organise their own events and to identify their training
needs. Training courses have included working as a team, effective decision-making, roles and
responsibilities, presentation skills and working in committees. The development of skills and
increased confidence has allowed Youth Voice members to participate in a range of ways.
Members have met the First Minister and other Ministers, made presentations and discussed
issues that they have identified as important. They have also engaged with local elected members
and officers with responsibility for delivering services for young people. They have given
presentations at national conferences and held workshops for other young people and for youth
workers. They have also produced leaflets for peers on drug and alcohol issues.
Renfrewshire Area
The Renfrew Crew
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The Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership asked member of The Renfrew Crew to
produce a DVD on opportunities available for young people centred on exploring the myth 'there's
nothing to do'. Young people who participated gained a wider range of practical skills and
confidence and increased their knowledge of the local area. Their experience was accredited
through ASFAN. The DVD was widely circulated to increase other young people’s knowledge of
local opportunities.
Renfrewshire Youth Voice
Working in partnership with the emergency services, young people from Renfrewshire Youth Voice
produced a two minute video on the dangers of drinking and driving. Members of the group made
very effective use of Bluetooth mobile phone technology to distribute the high quality video clip to
young people whilst travelling on public transport or in nightclubs. Feedback from those who
received this information felt that it was very thought provoking and those who worked on the
production learned a wide range of skills.
Fife Area
Youth Work Training and Induction Programme
Fife CLD had developed an extensive introductory training programme for youth workers that
included induction, heath and safety, child protection, first aid, equalities and excursion guidelines
with some more specialised training, staff are paid to attend. All costs for the programme, including
salaries of attendees and trainers, are planned for and budgeted at programme development
stage. This meant that every work has a ‘minimum entitlement’ for paid attendance to:
An annual employee development interview to address continuing professional development
needs
Three work planning meetings per year
Annual youth work briefing (six hours with training element)
All attendance is paid at the normal workers rate of pay or at time and a half if the meeting are at
weekend. Sessional staff said they were well supported and acknowledged the paid training they
had attended. Staff particularly noted that the same courses were offered on different days and at
different times to enable attendance.
Anne Frank Exhibition and Drama Programme
Fife CLD and Dialogue Youth staff had worked closely with young people and partners in
museums, schools, Police and further education to design, develop and deliver a highly innovative
exhibition, drama and seminar programme on the life of Anne Frank. The various events looked at
issues of equality, citizenship and diversity in a challenging way and obtained high level of
involvement and attendance by the local young people and wider community.
East Lothian Area
The Bridge Centre Motorcycle Project
The Centre Motorcycle Project is a charitable organisation, operating as part of the Bridge
Community Centre in Haddington. The Project is staffed by a team of youth workers using off-road
training motorcycles as a means of engaging with young people, ages 8 to 24 years, with a view to
facilitating individual and group work activities aimed at promoting inclusion and social welfare.
The project worked with over 140 young people a year, over a three year period. Young people
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had the opportunity to gain a minimum certificate level of their Basic Bronze Award in off-road
motorcycle riding, with the scope to progress up through another four levels of certificate. Young
people involved demonstrated improved school attainment, behaviour and attendance, reduced
offending and anti-social behaviour.
Midlothian Area
EH22 Streetwork
Y2K adopted a planned and systematic approach to streetwork with young people. They mapped
in advance the work for each night and took effective steps to ensure the health and safety of staff
developed very empathetic relationships with young people on the streets, offering opportunities
for them to discuss issues such as community safety, drugs and alcohol. Young people
appreciated very much the contribution of the workers to building their self-confidence and local
statistics showed significant decreased in youth crime and disorder in the local area.
Y2K Girls Group
The girls group at Y2K offered a secure and trusted environment for girls and young women to
meet and explore issues of relevance to them. Programmes responded to the issues, such as
bullying, brought by the participants and were well planned and organised. Staff, including young
volunteers, built very effective working relationships with participants. This work had a significant
impact on the self-esteem and confidence of participants.
Examples of Good Practice in Relation to Efforts to Support Young People
from Scottish Local Authorities
North Lanarkshire Council
Xtra Hands
The Xtra Hands programme has been developed and funded through the Employer Engagement Team at
North Lanarkshire Council in partnership with selected contractors. The programme offers young people a
six month temporary contract with one of North Lanarkshire Council’s contractors and employers that are
already engaged through Regeneration Services. All positions are entry level, but are crucial first steps
towards securing a job with local growing companies. Individuals who are successful in achieving a
placement are paid a wage which is equivalent or greater than the minimum wage. The placements are
also a possible step towards an apprenticeship. To date, 250 16 to 18 year olds have been supported
through Xtra Hands, with 230 achieving employment, 12 entering education or training and 20 achieving
an accredited qualification. So far, 44 (20%) of those entering employment have sustained their job for six
months or more.
16+ Learning Choices
£1.7million of grant funding from Scottish Government has been secured for the implementation of
16+Learning Choices in North Lanarkshire for the period 2009-2011. 16+ Learning Choices is a new
model for ensuring that every young person has an appropriate, relevant, attractive offer of learning made
to them, well in advance of their school leaving date.
In North Lanarkshire, six Learning Hubs are being set up across the main locality areas to engage those
school leavers who are not moving onto positive destinations and, through coordinated support, assist
them to move into education, training or employment. The learning Hubs operate across the six largest
town centres: Airdrie Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Motherwell and Wishaw. The support provided
to school leavers focuses on the three main elements of 16+LC: Learning Provision; Information, Advice
and Guidance and Financial Support. To date, over 160 young people have been supported through the
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16+ Learning Choices, with 56 entering education or training courses, 37 achieving employment and 17
achieving an accredited qualification.
Activity Agreements
This is an agreement between a young person and an adviser that sets out the young person’s
participation in a programme of learning and activity that will help them to become ready for formal
learning or employment. North Lanarkshire, along with nine other local authority areas, is piloting the
activity and grant funding has been made available for each of these authority areas for the
implementation of Activity Agreements.
The initial target group for activity agreements are young people entering a negative destination on leaving
school, however, those who enter a positive destination but do not sustain it would also be eligible as
would young people who are disengaged from school before their school leaving date and are identified
through outreach work.
A number of different departments across the Council provide support through this activity including
Community Learning and Development staff, Employability Key Workers, Youth Workers, Social Work,
Health and Housing. The level and type of support is continually reviewed to ensure the correct
interventions are provided to support the young people through whatever barriers to participation and
progression they face.
 Future Jobs Fund - North Lanarkshire Partnership submitted a consortium bid to DWP in
2009. To date, 450 vacancies have been created and 333 young people have started on the
Future Jobs Fund across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Approval has recently
been received to create a further 700 work placements for young unemployed people in North
Lanarkshire.

An Employer Engagement guide was produced to give businesses and practitioners
information and details of the kind of support that North Lanarkshire Council’s Employer
Engagement Service provides. Over the last year, the Service has worked with over 250
businesses to help support North Lanarkshire residents into employment.
Perth and Kinross Council
The Council has set up an Economic Leadership Board to drive forward and monitor its
Economic Recovery Programme. Specific initiatives include:

Employability Initiatives. The Future Jobs Fund has to date placed 34 young people in jobs.
Placements are within the Council and Partner organisations/voluntary sector. An additonal
14 places are currently at the recruitment stage. A support employment project has been
developed with Job Centre Plus with the first project in 2009 achieving a 75% jobs rate. The
second one in early 2010 had a 60% job rate. A business support group has developed an
innovative programme for pre and post leaving school age and the PACE programme has
been instigated in 3 redundancy cases. An Insurance hub has been developed with Aviva,
a major local employer, other insurance companies, schools and Perth College. The aim is
to promote the industry and develop strong school – industry links. Other initiatives being
considered are a retail academy enhancing the SDS employability grant initiative and a
training for work business scheme.

Events. We continue to develop the events tourism potential of the area with major events
worth over £16 million annually and continued growth evident in major events such as the
Etape Caledonia cycle event, T in the Park, Enchanted Forest, Blair Castle Horse Trials,
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Perthshire Amber festival. The Etape Caledonia in particular has seen significant growth
since 2007 with participation increasing from 1,000 to nearly 4,000 in 2010 and now worth
£1.2 million to the local economy. As a legacy from Homecoming 2009 and in the context
of an events continuum as we build towards 2014 and the Ryder Cup, we have developed
the Perth 800 programme for 2010 as a major initiative for the area. With a full year
programme of over 130 events, the focus has been on developing the tourism profile of the
area as a whole and Perth City specifically, linking in with retail and leisure promotions for
the city and laying the foundation for a bid for official city status. Early indications are of
positive impacts in retail and visitor footfall with highlight events including the British Isles
indoor bowling tournament, Geo-caching Scotland event, an expanded Perth Festival of
Arts which reported record ticket sales, and new sporting events such as the Park World
Tour international orienteering tournament and the Tay Descent mass participation canoe
event. The programme culminates with a new cultural festival Light Night which has
received support from EventScotland and the private sector.

Rural Regeneration. Since 2008, we have supported the Rural Tayside LEADER
programme which has been particularly effective in supporting innovative local projects
contributing to economic recovery. For example, the programme jointly with the Council has
supported a social enterprise development fund providing start-up and development grants
to social enterprises. Through income generation activities, these enterprises have
contributed to social or environmental improvement such as providing job development
opportunities to disadvantaged groups. The programme has also supported the
development of community-led business support services via Growbiz providing mentoring
and peer support to local enterpreneurs in rural Eastern Perthshire. In addition, the
programme has injected funding into the local economy through capital/revenue projects
supporting demand through contracts to local businesses.
South Ayrshire Council

Joint Ayrshire Economic Regeneration Group established.

A consortium consisting of the Leaders and CEO’s of North, East and South Ayrshire local
authorities and private sector leaders who have a focussed pro-active approach towards a
strategy for the future, which will make the most of emerging opportunities in the offshore
renewables sector.

Pan-Ayrshire branding developed to promote the region to inward investors, tourists and
businesses. Run by the Ayrshire Business Forum this collective is a partnership from both
public and private sector.

The Future Jobs Fund. Our Workforce Plus Group created 87 job opportunities for young
people in South Ayrshire in both public and voluntary sector organisations. 69 of these jobs
were created within the Council spanning a variety of services including youth work,
community safety and neighbourhood services. These are real jobs which have given young
people the chance to gain experience in a broad range of skills areas.
South Lanarkshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council’s delivery of the Future Jobs Fund, has made, and continues to
make a significant contribution to addressing unemployment, particularly amongst young
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people locally. To date (August 2010) some 664 jobs have been filled with an expected total of
1200 being achieved by March 2011. This has contributed to the ongoing reduction in the
number of 18 to 24 years old JSA claimants in our area over the past few months.
In recognition of the current economic circumstances the Council has added to the provision of
opportunities for school leavers by establishing the Youth Jobs Fund, modelled on FJF, which
provides subsidised work placements for approximately 180 16 and 17 year olds for up to 50
weeks. Again this will have contributed to the reduction in JSA claimants in this age group
which has seen a fall of 43% over the past year.
The Council’s wider employability programmes which have been refocused to ensure support
can be provided to those made redundant as well as long term unemployed residents,
assisted some 4,731 people during 2009/ 2010 of whom 1,257 moved on into employment,
training or education.
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