Recent successes
Over the past twelve months, the Consortium has made significant progress
At policy level, it has:
- Held two youth workers seminars dedicated to the national youth work strategy consultation, attracting over 120 practitioners and managers from across the city.
- Co-hosted a seminar with Edinburgh Leisure, enabling youth workers to shape the organisation’s young people and sport strategy. This was attended by 80 practitioners and managers.
- Contributed to the development and launch of the voluntary’s sectors manifesto launch to the local political parties involved in the local authority elections.
- Secured permanent representation on the City Council committee that deals with all youth matters.
Final Flyer for EYWC Conference
At practice level, it has:
- Circulated regular information to over 500 youth workers and youth work agencies through direct mailings and provided a Consortium page in the last 2 issues of LAYC’s journal Networks which has a circulation in excess of 2,000.
- Endorsed and supported Edinburgh Youth Council in their efforts to develop a ‘bottom’ up strategy to engaging directly with local young people in the city’s decision making processes including the links to the Community Planning arrangements.
At partnership level, it has:
- Held regular Consortium meetings that involve all the statutory and voluntary sector representatives to identify and manage the work programme.
- Been recognised by Youthlink Scotland as the networking body for youth work in Edinburgh that is best placed to act as a conduit for information, views, shared practice and development of quality youth work.
- Secured the services of LAYC to provide support to the work of the Consortium.
Context
The Consortium has come together at a critical time for youth work in Scotland. In March 2007 , the National Youth Work Strategy and an initial dedicated year of action were launched.
The recent elections at Scottish Parliament and local authority levels have ushered in a time of political change. Both these events provide opportunities and challenges to those involved in the development of youth work locally and nationally.
The position of young people in Scottish society is at the forefront of current political thinking and practitioners, managers and young people have the opportunity to re-inform and re-shape the direction of youth policies for years to come.
The Consortium is committed to engaging in debate with policy makers at Scottish and Edinburgh levels.