Give Youth a Chance

Give Youth A Chance is a streetwork project in south Edinburgh. It works in areas that are identified as suffering from deprivation.

Give Youth A Chance
Old Gilmerton Library
64 Gilmerton Street
Edinburgh
Scotland
EH17 8PL

(t): 0131 666 1440
(f): 0131 621 7064
(e): david@streetwork.org.uk; fiona@streetwork.org.uk: gyac@streetwork.org.uk
(w): www.streetwork.org.uk

Contact: David Aitchison, project worker; Fiona Scott, manager.

A Youth or Adult? Project 2003-2008

Give Youth A Chance (GYAC) undertakes six three hour 'streetwork' (detached youth work) shifts a week in south Edinburgh.  Basically we engage with young people on their territory around shops, street corners swing parks, anywhere they feel comfortable to express themselves. Doing streetwork enables us to reach young people who may be excluded from mainstream services or just choose not to attend. We are currently working in three housing estates in the south Edinburgh area. GYAC aims to provide information through interaction and conversation. Each worker carries a rucksack full of up-to-date relevant information that is given out. GYAC staff are also involved in project work. We are working with other agencies and young people to organise a youth event for summer of 2004. The event is being developed by a young peoples steering group who we helped to set up. We are also working with Arts South Edinburgh in delivering various art skills including dance, graffiti art and music to young people with learning disabilities. GYAC are also involved in a pilot girls group encouraging young woman to have a healthy body and healthy mind, this is a ten week pilot but so far has been a success.

GYAC is part of sister project of Streetwork UK. Streetwork UK has specialised workers in drugs , alcohol and homeless issues. Currently we have two of these workers seconded to us as these issues are apparent on every shift. We are also involved in an intensive training programme so that we are as effective as possible around current issues. As workers we are required to highlight relevant training that we may need. It is our responsibility to keep ourselves up-to-date so we can provide relevant information to the young people.

An example of the work we undertake is concerns problems between residents and young people on an estate in our area. We have made contact with both parties and are currently devising a plan on how to tackle the problem so that the issues can be resolved. We are acting as the bridge to bring these two parties together for the good of everyone involved.