Margaret McLeodPolicy and Information Manager

YouthLink Scotland

YouthLink Scotland

Purpose, Vision & Aim

• Membership organisation

• Representing interests & aspirations

• Championing the role and value

• Partnership with members and others

Strategic Aims

• Securing sustainable investment

• Increasing awareness of the value

• Improving youth work practice

• Influencing policy and legislation

• Developing communications and networks

• Enhancing the workforce

• Promoting positive images of young people

Key Areas of Work

• Influencing and developing policy

• Practice and resource development

• Workforce development

• Information sharing and networks

• Attracting investment

Being Young in Scotland

• Bi-annual research

• 2003/2005/2007/2009

• Core questions

• Partners questions

• Age Groups

Our Partners BYIS 2010

Methodology• self completed questionnaires (2,134) young people

• 11 – 16 year olds in school (1,134)

• survey boost in Fife (1,134)

•17 -25 at home

Main Findings BYIS 2009

• Self Image

• Mental Health

• Living in Scotland

• Things to Do

• Volunteering

• Rights

• Education

• Alcohol

• Influence

• Access to information

Characteristics

• (54%) slightly over half of group are girls

• (64%) live with mum and dad

• (8%) live with parent and new partner

• (13%) live with mum only and (1%) live with dad only

• (1%) live with grandparents and (1%) live with foster carers

Parents and Work

• (43%) of mother work full time and a further (28%) work part-time

• (68%) of fathers work full time and a further (10%) work part-time

The recession

• affected 23% of 11-16 year olds

• main issues less money and need to be careful with money, and increased prices

Health and Well-Being

• (12%) of 11-16 year old regarded themselves as having longstanding health issues

• (59%) felt they had healthy life style

• majority have a positive self-image

• (20%) said they often felt sad or depressed

• (2%) said they never take part in sport or games

Most likely use of spare time

• (81%) internet

• (77%) watching TV

• (73%) listening to music

• (71%) going to friends house

• (67%) texting

• (63%) social networking

• (57%) using computer games

What makes someone a good citizen

• (87%) respecting others

• (71%) obeying the law

• (56%) in being a good parent

• (53%) looking after the environment

• (48%) not taking illegal drugs, (31% not smoking)

• (41%) leading positive and healthy lifestyles

• (41%) being a considerate neighbour

• (40%) having a say in what goes on, (24% voting in elections

Violence

• (16%) are really frightened to go out because of violence

• (18%) thought it was acceptable to use violence to use physical force to get something they wanted

• (56%) thought they should have legal protection from being smacked

Information• (38%) read newspapers or news articles on the internet

• (95%) have access to internet at home

• (44%) have access to internet via their phone

• (62%) could easily find information with

(67%) using Google to do so

• (28%) never prefer to get information from official sources

Role Models/Influence• positive characteristics – honesty, hard working, kind/caring and trustworthy

• (27%) need to believe in same thing

• (23%) someone you know personally

• (77%) did not need to be famous or be a

celebrity

• (79%) did not have to be from some culture

• (66%) parents, carers or guardians had most influence

This leaves us with a range of information and a huge challenge