Join us at the National Youth Work Conference on Tuesday 5th November in Glasgow where we’ll be examining how youth work’s early interventions not only repairs but prevents fractures in our communities.
This year’s National Youth Work Conference will explore how youth work’s ‘upstream’ approach can build resilience, develop skills, promote healthy lifestyles – and ultimately change lives for the better.
So, join us as we champion “Upstream Solutions” — an approach that empowers young people to identify risks and protective factors in their lives, preventing crises before they occur. By prioritising youth work and prevention, we not only build a resilient generation but also alleviate the strain on our public services and create a brighter future for all.
This year’s conference will put more focus on CPD opportunities, so you can expect three keynote speakers, more workshops and training, as well as breathing space for all important networking.
Don’t miss this chance to be part of the conversation.
Participating in the National Youth Work Conference can be recorded as six hours of Professional Learning time, which can contribute to the 35 hours per year (pro rata) required for membership of the CLD Standards Council, another professional body, or your own learning and development plan.
When recording your professional learning you may want to reflect on your development from this event in relation to the relevant CLD Competences and CLD Ethics.
For this year’s conference, we’re delighted to bring you keynote speeches from some of Scotland’s brightest minds on prevention, as well as an exciting range of interactive workshops and professional development opportunities.
Hear from Public Health Scotland CEO Paul Johnston about the need for a radical policy shift towards prevention in Scotland, and COSLA’s Children & Young People’s Spokesperson Councillor Tony Buchanan‘s local perspective of the vital role of youth work in this shift. We’ll also hear from Scottish Children and Young People’s Commissioner Nicola Killean about prevention and the power of listening.
YouthLink Scotland CEO Tim Frew will be chairing an expert panel – From Policy to Practice: Youth Work and the Prevention Agenda – and will be joined by Dr Diane Stockton (Public Health Scotland), Carrie Lindsay (ADES), Clair Thomson (Scottish Prevention Hub) and Jasmin Aden (One Communities Scotland).
This year, we’ll also be offering you more flexibilty than ever in terms of learning opportunities, with three rounds of workshops on prevention from Children in Scotland, Princes Trust, Planet Youth Scotland, Zero Tolerance, Rock Trust and more!
Download our National Youth Work Conference agenda for more information – full programme with key speaker bios to follow!
Chair, YouthLink Scotland
Angela has worked at a senior level in local authorities for over two decades and served as Public Health Scotland’s CEO from November 2019 to March 2023.
COSLA’s Children and Young People’s Spokesperson
Tony was first elected to East Renfrewshire council in 2007 and represents Neilston and Newton Mearns North. He has been a member of the Education committee and IJB, both areas in which the Council is sector leading.
CEO, Public Health Scotland
Paul was appointed Chief Executive of Public Health Scotland in March 2023. Prior to this role, Paul spent eight years in various influential roles within Scottish Government, with responsibility for tackling child poverty, social justice, social security, housing, equality, human rights, local government and public service reform.
Scottish Children and Young People’s Commissioner
Nicola took up her role as Commissioner in September 2023 after establishing Sistema Scotland in 2007, which now boasts over 130 staff and 80 volunteers supporting over 2,800 children weekly in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities.
Sign up to be part of a lively panel discussion, chaired by YouthLink Scotland CEO Tim Frew. From Policy to Practice: Youth Work and the Prevention Agenda will benefit from decades of experience across health, prevention, community and education thanks ton our expert panelists:
Book your place at this year’s conference to take part in our lunchtime seminar: Building Racial Literacy: Promoting anti-racism as a baseline professional value, empowering youth workers to identify and implement anti-racist behaviours and processes in their everyday practice.
We’ll be joined by:
We listened to your feedback in 2023 and this year we’ve put a real emphasis on CPD opportunities at this year’s event, with six incredible workshops for you to take part in, repeated three times throughout the day so you don’t have to miss out on your favourites!
Workshops:
Raising Awareness of Suicide Prevention – Children in Scotland and Suicide Prevention Scotland
This workshop will introduce Suicide Prevention Scotland’s Youth Advisory Group, focusing on the needs of young people in suicide prevention. Participants will learn about youth work’s role in prevention and discover ways to get involved in this critical area.
Does Youth Work Change Lives in Dundee? Yes, it does!! – Dundee City Council
Explore the impact of early intervention in youth work through powerful stories and films, emphasising how listening to young people’s voices shapes their development. The workshop highlights how youth work empowers individuals and transforms communities by fostering resilience and self-expression.
Community Safety: Breaking Down Barriers and Connecting Generations – Generations Working Together, The Prince’s Trust and Yoker Resource Centre
Explore how intergenerational connections can improve community safety by breaking down age-based stereotypes. Participants will engage in arts-based research, learning how to challenge perceptions of crime and build relationships across generations.
Upstream Prevention in Practice – Planet Youth Scotland, Winning Scotland and Y Sort It
This workshop dives into the power of upstream thinking and how data-driven approaches can give young people a voice in shaping their communities. Learn from real-world examples to understand how upstream prevention can enhance youth well-being and resilience.
Beyond Bystanders: Youth Work and preventing violence against women and girls – Zero Tolerance
This session focuses on how youth work can play a crucial role in preventing violence against women and girls. Participants will gain insights into prevention strategies and leave empowered to implement tools that create a safer Scotland for young women.
Taking Homelessness Prevention Upstream: Working together to prevent family and youth homelessness – Rock Trust
With youth homelessness rising for the first time in a decade, this workshop will explore its causes and prevention strategies. Participants will learn from young people’s experiences and from Upstream Scotland’s innovative, school-based prevention model.