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Research

YouthLink Scotland’s research programme strengthened national evidence, supported practitioners, and ensured young people’s voices shaped policy and practice across Scotland.

Key Achievements

YouthLink Scotland secured youth work questions in Young Scot’s Truth About Youth 2025 Survey, giving a clear national picture of impact:

64%
said youth work makes them happy
64%
said it helps them learn new skills
58%
said it helps them grow in confidence

Scottish Youth Work Research Steering Group

The Steering Group played an important role in setting national research priorities and supporting collaboration across the sector and academia.

 

This year:

  • The group met three times
  • Dr Ian Fyfe (University of Edinburgh) became the new Chair
  • YouthLink Scotland and the University of Edinburgh led a Future of Youth Work study on behalf of the group. This study built on the research priorities consultation, where youth workers and young people across Scotland shared their research priorities for youth work. 4 youth work organisations took part in the study – Girlguiding Scotland, Hot Chocolate Trust, Girvan Youth Trust and Muirhouse Youth Development Group.
  • The group contributed to Truth About Youth 2025, ensuring youth work was represented in a major national survey

A Research-Engaged Sector

Across four Members Network research sessions:

National Research Projects

  • Future of Youth Work – participatory research exploring future challenges and how youth work is recognised across sectors
  • Youth VIP – youth-led research into perspectives on volunteering
  • Imagine a Man – research report and toolkit exploring masculinities with practitioners and young people
  • Supported and provided research advice for the programme exploring Game Design for Youth Work

Growing Youth-Led Research

  • Ongoing support for OPEN Shetland’s youth-led research programme
  • Young peer researchers presented nationally at the Third Sector Research Forum
  • Secured three years of new funding (2025–28) to continue community-led research in island settings
Young person using mobile phone to make a lego stop motion video while peers and youth worker look on.

Strengthening Research Ethics

National and International Contribution

YouthLink Scotland presented research at:

 

  • Journal of Youth Studies Conference, Belfast
  • UKRIO national webinar on research integrity (400 registered)
  • University of Edinburgh events and seminars
  • National Impact Network
Lots of EU and GB flags

What This Means for Scotland

The research carried out last year provides clear, credible evidence that youth work supports young people’s wellbeing, confidence, skills and sense of belonging.

This growing evidence base strengthens policy discussions, improves practice, and ensures that decisions about young people’s lives are informed by their experiences and voices.