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| Young Scot | |
|---|---|
| Name | Young Scot |
| Type | Charity; national youth information service |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Area served | Scotland |
| Services | Youth information, rights advocacy, youth participation, entitlement card |
Young Scot is a Scottish youth information and citizenship charity providing services, resources, and a national entitlement card for people aged 11–26 across Scotland. The organisation delivers information, advice, and participation opportunities linked to health, welfare, rights, and participation and works with public bodies, third sector groups, and education providers. Young Scot operates at the intersection of youth policy, community engagement, and digital services to support young people’s access to benefits, learning, and cultural participation.
Young Scot was founded in 1981 during a period of expansion for UK youth services across Scotland, linking to initiatives in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, and rural regions. Early development occurred alongside bodies such as Scottish Executive, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, and UK-wide youth networks including UK Youth and National Council for Voluntary Youth Services. In the 1990s and 2000s the organisation adapted to devolved powers following the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, engaging with policy frameworks from the Scottish Government and collaborating with agencies such as NHS Scotland and Skills Development Scotland. Over time Young Scot expanded services from print information to digital platforms, responding to technological change influenced by actors like Microsoft, Google, and the growth of social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter. Significant milestones include the rollout of a national entitlement card in partnership with local authorities and national funders, negotiated with stakeholders such as COSLA and local education authorities.
Young Scot is governed by a board of trustees drawn from Scotland’s third sector, youth work, academia, and public service sectors, with links to institutions such as University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, and professional bodies like the Institute of Directors. Operational leadership interfaces with municipal entities including Glasgow City Council and regional development agencies such as Scottish Enterprise. Governance arrangements reflect charity regulation under OSCR and compliance with standards from bodies such as Investors in People and the Scottish Charity Regulator. Young Scot’s staff include specialists in digital services, health promotion, and youth participation who liaise with partner organisations including Barnardo's, Royal Voluntary Service, and national training providers like City of Glasgow College.
Young Scot delivers a portfolio of information and participation programs spanning rights awareness, employability, and wellbeing. Core offerings align with national campaigns run by partners including NHS Health Scotland, VisitScotland cultural engagement projects, and employability pathways with Skills Development Scotland and YouthBuild UK. The organisation produces multilingual resources that reference services such as Citizen's Advice Scotland and legal guidance frameworks like the Human Rights Act 1998 and engagement with international instruments including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Programs include youth participation forums linked with civic processes at Holyrood, consultation projects with Scottish Youth Parliament, creative commissions with arts bodies like Creative Scotland, and digital learning tools co-designed with technology partners including IBM and educational publishers. Delivery models use community settings such as youth clubs affiliated with Youth Scotland and school partnerships with local education authorities.
The Young Scot National Entitlement Card is a personal identity, discount, and access card issued in partnership with local authorities and national schemes including Transport Scotland and regional transport bodies. The card provides validated age verification, concessions on public transport integrated with ticketing systems like those managed by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, and discounts at cultural venues such as National Galleries of Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland sites. It links to national concession arrangements administered by bodies including DWP for specific schemes, and supports participation in recreational programs offered by organisations like Sportscotland. The card infrastructure involves secure data handling in compliance with standards promoted by Information Commissioner's Office and technical providers from the private sector.
Young Scot’s operating model depends on multi-source funding and partnerships across public, private, and philanthropic sectors. Core funders and partners have included the Scottish Government, local authorities coordinated through COSLA, philanthropic trusts such as the Big Lottery Fund, and corporate partners from retail and technology sectors. Collaborative projects have been delivered with national agencies such as NHS Scotland, Skills Development Scotland, Creative Scotland, and community partners including Barnardo's and YouthLink Scotland. Contractual relationships with transport bodies, cultural institutions, and education providers sustain card services, digital platforms, and participation programs.
Young Scot’s work has been cited in policy evaluations by the Scottish Government and in research from universities including University of Glasgow and University of Edinburgh, and its youth participation models have been referenced by youth organisations such as Scottish Youth Parliament and YouthLink Scotland. The organisation has received awards and commendations from sector bodies including recognition linked to Investors in People and civic engagement prizes issued by regional civic institutions. Evaluations highlight outcomes in young people’s access to discounts, information, and civic participation, with impacts visible in transport uptake, cultural engagement at institutions like National Library of Scotland, and employability pipelines connected to Skills Development Scotland programs.
Category:Charities based in Scotland Category:Youth organisations based in Scotland