Scottish Lib Dems pass motion to deliver a National Youth Work Guarantee

The Scottish Liberal Democrat spring conference has today passed a motion calling on the next Scottish Government to deliver a National Youth Work Guarantee, creating opportunities for young people, including those at risk of falling behind, who are disengaged from education, or who need mentorship and fresh inspiration to learn new skills.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“Scottish Liberal Democrats are bursting with ideas for how to help young people flourish, no matter their background or personal circumstances. They need opportunities to have fun, discover their talents and grow in confidence and ambition.

"We need an end to the SNP’s neglect of youth work and action that will finally recognise its importance.

“For the best part of twenty years, I was a youth worker, helping some of the most disengaged young people get their lives back on track.

“That experience taught me that no child is inherently bad. Most of the time, they are just in need of some direction, a need that has only been fuelled by the isolating impact of lockdown.

“That’s where youth work comes in: it provides young people with the direction they need and gives them a positive adult role model who is neither a teacher nor a parent. It builds trust and gives them consistency.

“If we want our young people to succeed in life, we need to lay the foundations for that to happen. One of the best ways we can do that is through effective youth work.”