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Keep your finger firmly on the pulse of Scotland’s youth work sector with our news, events & blogs library. You’ll get the top stories, best training opportunities and insightful comment from across the sector.

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National Youth Work Conference 2026
This year’s conference will bring together practitioners, academics, pioneering projects and policy leaders to explore the future of mental health and wellbeing support for young people.

Better Lives Survey 2026
This new report draws on engagement with 2,922 young people across Scotland and provides valuable insight into how young people perceive violence, knife crime, safety, and prevention efforts in the current social climate.

YouthLink Scotland Members Network: Exploring European Youth Work
17th September - 11am to 12.30pm. Bookings are now open for our third meeting of 2026, exploring European youth work with the British Council, the incoming UK National Agency for Erasmus+.
Help Test Youth Work Skills Track
YouthLink Scotland is recruiting up to 100 organisations to take part in the next phase of testing Youth Work Skills Track, a new digital tool developed around the National Youth Work Outcomes and Skills Framework. Get in touch by 31st August.

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Your Voice Matters! Help Shape the Future EU Youth Strategy
The European Commission wants to hear your ideas and help shape the next EU Youth Strategy. This strategy plays a vital role in supporting young people’s social and civic engagement, ensuring policies truly reflect their needs, and driving meaningful change across Europe. It's also a great opportunity to make youth work a key feature of the EU Youth Strategy. The closing date for responses is 16th July.
  • Topic:  International, Policy & Influencing
  • Date:  27 April, 2026

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UK Youth Poll 2026 - For Young People, By Young People
In partnership with Nationwide Building Society, the John Smith Centre is delighted to publish the UK Youth Poll 2026, their annual report on the United Kingdom’s young people, their priorities and needs, and their perspective on the nation around them.
  • Topic:  Research
  • Date:  27 April, 2026

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The Knowledge Gateway
Volunteer Scotland's new hub for practical guidance, training, and resources to help you develop, promote, and strengthen volunteering across Scotland. Explore tools, insights, and support designed to empower volunteer-involving organisations and create the conditions where volunteering can thrive.
  • Topic:  Rights, Participation & Volunteering
  • Date:  27 April, 2026

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A Right. A Space. A Future – Scotland’s Youth Work Sector Manifesto
This is the third in a series of three pieces highlighting what must change to ensure every young person in Scotland can access high-quality youth work: guaranteed by law, available in every community, and sustained by long-term investment. Jimmy Paul, Head of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit writes about why spaces for young people are so crucial, echoing the calls in the Youth Work Sector’s Manifesto, — A Right, A Space, A Future. 
  • Topic:  Rights, Participation & Volunteering
  • Date:  27 April, 2026

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Help Improve Children’s Care Law in Scotland - Share Your Experience
Do you work with or care for children, young people and families in Scotland in need of care and protection? A new short survey is inviting you to share how children’s care and protection law affects your everyday practice or care. The survey is open until Monday 25th  May.
  • Topic:  Care, Research
  • Date:  21 April, 2026

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Body and Mind Training (BAM!)
Developed by Mindful Peak Performance CIC in collaboration with Mind and Barnardo's, BAM! fuses non-contact boxing with mindfulness to build emotional regulation, confidence, and resilience in young people facing disadvantage. 
  • Topic:  Health & Wellbeing
  • Date:  21 April, 2026

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DofE Launches New Five-year Strategy to Help Millions of Young People Become “World Ready”
As it celebrates five consecutive years of record-breaking participation, DofE has renewed its call for universal access to enrichment opportunities – and unveils plans to equip more than two million young people with skills for life and work by 2031.
  • Topic:  Education, Skills & Employability
  • Date:  20 April, 2026

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Voice of Online Youth Group Looking for New Members
NSPCC has started the search for young people between the ages of 12 and 15 who want to make the online world a safer place. Members of the group will meet influential people, help shape policies and laws, tackle online safety issues and learn new life skills. The deadline for applications is 22nd May.
  • Topic:  Digital Youth Work
  • Date:  20 April, 2026

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Reform UK Scottish Manifesto Outlines a Number of Proposals for Young People 
Reform UK has published its Scottish manifesto for the 2026 election, setting out a programme focused on the economy, public services, education, housing and justice. While the manifesto contains little direct reference to youth work, it does include a number of commitments relevant to young people and the issues affecting their futures.
  • Topic:  Rights, Participation & Volunteering
  • Date:  20 April, 2026

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Scottish Liberal Democrat Manifesto Backs Stronger Support for Young People and Youth Work
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have published their 2026 manifesto, Change with Fairness at its Heart, and it contains a number of commitments relevant to young people, youth work and the issues affecting communities across Scotland. 
  • Topic:  Prevention & Early Intervention
  • Date:  20 April, 2026

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SNP Manifesto Highlights Opportunities to Invest in Young People
The Scottish National Party has published its 2026 manifesto, setting out priorities for the next Parliament across public services, poverty, communities and the economy. While the manifesto does not explicitly reference youth work, it contains a number of commitments that align strongly with the role youth work already plays in supporting young people across the country. 
  • Topic:  Rights, Participation & Volunteering
  • Date:  16 April, 2026

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Writing Successful Funding Bids E-learning Course
Your time is precious and good funding opportunities few, so make sure every application is as strong as possible with this self-led training course from Youth Scotland. This structured training guides you through every part of the bid-writing process, with video explanations, interactive activities and examples throughout. There are dates in May and June to choose from. 
  • Topic:  Funding, Training & Development
  • Date:  16 April, 2026

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Do you have a youth work event coming up? We can help you promote it on our website and in our Youth Work Briefing, going out to over 1000 subscribers every fortnight. Simply fill out our event submission form and we’ll take care of the rest.

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