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xYouth Work (Scotland) Bill
Date: 11th December 2024
Category:
General measures of implementation
Closing Date: 21st February 2025
Scottish Labour MSP Martin Whitfield has introduced a public consultation for a proposed Youth Work (Scotland) Bill, which aims to give all young people a legal right to access quality youth work services.
The Bill seeks to make youth work a statutory service for young people aged 11 to 25 across Scotland. It aims to tackle inequalities in youth work provision by ensuring all young people, regardless of their background, can access support that helps them thrive. The Bill would require local councils to develop Youth Work Strategies tailored to their communities’ needs, in line with a National Youth Work Strategy. These strategies would:
- Reflect the voices of young people, involving them directly in shaping services;
- Respect young people’s rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) by ensuring their right to participate, develop, and access support;
- Integrate youth work with broader community services, including education, health, and social care, for a holistic approach;
- Establish sustainable funding models to maintain resilient and adaptable youth work services.
This public consultation aims to gather views on how the proposed changes can best serve Scotland’s young people.
YouthLink Scotland will host network and member events to support this consultation, providing opportunities to discuss the Bill’s proposals and share sector intelligence.