Cole-Hamilton sets out plan for youth work to re-engage young people

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today used a visit to a theatre in Dunfermline to set out his experience as a youth worker and commit his party to expanding opportunities for young people.

The party’s manifesto will commit to bring forward a Youth Work Bill to foster more opportunities for young people, including those who are disengaged from education, at risk of falling behind, or who need mentorship and fresh inspiration to learn new skills.

Going behind the scenes at the Alhambra Theatre, Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“Before politics I was a youth worker. For nineteen years I helped children trafficked to Scotland, enslaved by drug gangs, kids who had been let down by the care system or who lived in poverty. This is something that’s really close to my heart.

“Under the SNP, too often these kids are written off. If someone is at risk of falling behind or feeling disengaged from education, they shouldn’t just be allowed to fall by the wayside.

“Often what these kids needs is someone to talk to, a mentor who can understand their home life and circumstances and help them get their lives on the right track.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats are campaigning for a Youth Work Bill to give young people more opportunities to have fun, discover their talents and grow in confidence and ambition. At a time when parents are worried about persistent absence and violence at school, this is a legal entitlement to youth work that will give young people spaces where they feel like they belong.

“If you believe in giving every young person and child the best start in life, every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach ballot will deliver change with fairness at its heart.

“Scotland deserves better. And with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you can vote for it.”