Category

• Promising Local Practice

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Poverty impact

• Mitigation
• Reduction

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Poverty driver

• Provide benefit in-kind (material)
• Provide benefit in-kind (experience)

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Keywords

• Community Engagement
• Young People
• Empowerment
• Rural Areas
• Life Skills

Aim

The aim of the project is to provide a safe space for young people to have fun while developing life skills through engaging activities.

Summary

The Arran Youth Foundations provides a safe, welcoming environment for young people to have fun, build life skills and connect with their peers. In doing so, it provides relief to families by delivering free trips away and counselling services to members who need support with their mental wellbeing. The project enables young people to achieve their goals through activities of their choosing, including art therapy, cooking classes and sports clubs. The project engages children and young people who otherwise might be isolated in a remote area.

What difference does it make?

Arran Youth Foundations has had a positive impact on young people living in a rural, isolated area by providing skill-building activities and various support services for free. Whilst tackling poverty is not a core aim of the project, it nonetheless mitigates its effects by supporting young people to develop life skills and by providing free food and relief to families. It has also raised money to support families in need with their shopping and energy bills. In providing a safe, welcoming environment, members can build connections with other young people through the activities delivered. It also helps members with their mental wellbeing through a free counselling service.

Key take-aways

• Children and young people in rural, isolated areas benefit from accessible projects they may not otherwise have access to.
• Projects that do not directly aim to tackle poverty can nonetheless mitigate its effects by ensuring free support services are accessible to all members.
• Isolated children and young people require a safe, welcoming environment to connect with others and build valuable life skills.

 

Organisations

Arran Youth Foundations

Location

Lamlash, Isle of Arran (Arran High School)

Contact