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Projects scoop top honours at youth awards
A top trio of Lanarkshire projects were among the winners at the prestigious national youth work awards run by Youthlink Scotland.
North Lanarkshire youth climate ambassadors won the environment and conservation category, while the Go To mental health service run by Regen:fx with Liber8 in South Lanarkshire was awarded the health and wellbeing prize.
Youth workers from the community learning and development department at North Lanarkshire Council were named the team of the year, while manager June Ford was runner-up in the “inspirational leader” category.
The climate ambassadors had a key role at last year’s COP 26 environment conference in Glasgow where they were part of Scotland’s youth climate declaration, met environment minister Mairi Mcallan and shared their short film, Dear World Leaders.
It saw members quiz council leaders and set out their requests for action on climate change; it gathered more than 1000 views and was highly commended at both the Education Scotland learning for sustainability awards and in the Keep Scotland Beautiful and Screen Scotland youth climate film project.
Group members have met weekly online or outdoors since forming just over a year ago, and take action by carrying out litter picks, promoting conservation in their communities and running workshops, as well as exploring environmental issues through creative projects.
North Lanarkshire’s youth work team took the national award in recognition of their “renowned participation rates” with more than 700 young people achieving a range of awards such as the Saltire and Dynamic Youth schemes last year.
They co-ordinated childcare hubs during the Covid pandemic and found new ways to deliver digital and detached opportunities such as the Big Camp Out online event, with judges noting: “Their response to the pandemic ensured that young people across the area were supported through difficult and challenging times.”
Described as “sector-leading”, the team have also successfully engaged with young people who experience intersectionality and the adverse effects of poverty, and have created a new transformational board – unanimously backed by councillors – to enhance the voice of young people with the local authority.
Larkhall-based Regen:fx youth trust earned the health and wellbeing title for their Go To mental health service, described as a “groundbreaking [and] impactful partnership” with youth workers and dedicated counselling service Liber8 Lanarkshire.
The project includes one-to-one support, youth leadership, peer mentoring, counselling and life skills, and is led by a youth advisory panel whose members have lived experience of mental health issues and who have helped develop youth programmes and a toolkit with advice, activities and contact details for support services.
It helps improve the “mental health and life chances for some of the most vulnerable young people in South Lanarkshire” through opportunities ranging from volunteering and employment programmes to action sports.
Trust manager Wendy Mciinally said: “Our youth workers are also qualified CBT therapists so are uniquely equipped to respond to the needs of young people; this non-clinical, youth-friendly approach has resulted in a service young people find easy to engage in.
“All of our young people reported an increase in more positive mental health and wellbeing which demonstrates the power of this partnership.”
Group member Rebekka Springett added: “Being part of Go To has helped me become confident in myself and provided me with opportunities that I thought I would never have the confidence to take part in.”
Meanwhile, leadership finalist June Ford was described as “the foundation upon which North Lanarkshire’s talented youth work team is built” for her impact both on young people and on her colleagues
Judges noted that the team manager’s “passion for young people meant the team thrived in the adversity of the pandemic, creating safe local spaces, widening access to accreditation, promoting outdoor learning opportunities and launching several youth voice groups”, and adding that she has “created opportunities – and often careers – that simply wouldn’t have existed without her drive and determination”.
The awards were presented at a dinner in Glasgow hosted by Still Game star Jane Mccarry and attended by youth work minister Jamie Hepburn, the Cumbernauld MSP.
Youthlink Scotland chief executive Tim Frew said: “The climate ambassadors have shown the real power of youth voice and action, changing attitudes in their local community and being part of a global youth movement to save our planet.”