Our Annual Report reflects a year of impactful advocacy and innovation, highlighting achievements in funding, training, and youth work outcomes.
It is my pleasure to present YouthLink Scotland’s Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2025. As the national agency for youth work and an independent charity, we continue to serve as the key intermediary for the sector – a role that feels more important than ever as demand for youth work grows across Scotland.
This was a year shaped by political and economic turbulence, including a mid-year reduction in our core Scottish Government grant. Against that backdrop, the achievements set out in this report are all the more significant. Guided by our vision of a Scotland where all young people realise their full potential through youth work, we remained focused on our three strategic outcomes: securing investment, supporting the sector to deliver, and strengthening understanding of youth work’s impact.
We continued to deliver major national programmes such as No Knives Better Lives, Action on Sectarianism and Action on Prejudice, alongside distributing vital funding, including the Youth Arts Open Fund. Our training programme, networks and events created 3,851 learning places and almost 800 e-learning completions, reaching participants in all 32 local authority areas. Independent surveys again show high levels of confidence in our role, with strong endorsement of the quality, relevance and accessibility of our support.
We deepened the evidence base for youth work through research, policy development and continued roll-out of the National Youth Work Outcomes and Skills Framework and digital impact tools. Our National Impact Hub, publications and campaigns helped keep youth work visible in national discussion, while international collaborations showcased Scotland’s approach on a wider stage.
Flagship events – including our National Conference on Upstream Prevention and the sector’s annual awards ceremony – further strengthened the profile of youth work and demonstrated its contribution across many of Scotland’s national priorities.
None of this would be possible without the commitment of our staff, Board, members, funders, partners and, most importantly, the young people whose experiences shape and inspire our work. We move into the year ahead fully aware of the pressures facing the sector, but confident in its collective strength, resilience and ambition to improve outcomes for Scotland’s young people.
Tim Frew, CEO, YouthLink Scotland
Angela Leitch CBE has announced that she will step down as Chair of YouthLink Scotland as she approaches the end of her three-year term of office.
Angela brought to YouthLink Scotland a wealth of leadership experience gained over more than two decades in senior public service roles. She served as Chief Executive of East Lothian Council for eight years before becoming the first Chief Executive of Public Health Scotland in 2019. More recently, she chaired the Scottish Local Authority Remuneration Committee, reported to Ministers in 2024, and continues to serve as a member of the Accounts Commission for Scotland and as a trustee of the Cyrenians.
Angela is currently Chair of the Independent Review of Creative Scotland appointed by Culture Secretary Angus Robertson MSP and a member of the Scottish Policing Authority.
Reflecting on her time as Chair, Angela said:
“It has been an amazing experience to be part of an organisation which represents and advocates on behalf of youth work services across the country. I want to thank you all for the opportunity to act as Chair and I will continue to speak up for the important and valuable role youth work plays in the lives of young people across communities in Scotland.”
YouthLink Scotland CEO Tim Frew added:
“Angela has been an outstanding Chair, providing invaluable leadership and insight at a time of both challenge and opportunity for the youth work sector. Her commitment to ensuring the voice of youth work is heard nationally has made a real difference, and we are enormously grateful for her service. We wish her every success in her ongoing contributions to Scotland’s public and civic life.”
To ensure continuity of governance, the Board has proposed that Bill Stevenson, current Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, will take up the role of Interim Chair until a permanent chair is appointed.
