The new partnership seeks to harness youth work in promoting young people’s health and wellbeing by addressing challenges like mental health, poverty, and social isolation.
Today, YouthLink Scotland and Public Health Scotland announced a new joint commitment to support young people’s health and wellbeing across Scotland through the power of youth work. This partnership highlights youth work as a proactive and essential approach to improving young people’s long-term health and preventing future crises.
YouthLink Scotland, Scotland’s national agency for youth work, believes in a future where young people can realise their full potential. By joining forces with Public Health Scotland, the partnership aims to elevate youth work’s role in tackling health challenges such as mental health, poverty, social isolation, and physical wellbeing.
Read the joint statement from YouthLink Scotland and Public Health Scotland here.
Youth work offers a unique way to connect with young people, particularly those who may not engage with traditional public services. By providing trusted spaces for young people to learn, build confidence, and make healthy choices, youth work contributes to improved health outcomes and reduced health inequalities. During COVID-19, youth work played an essential role in supporting mental wellbeing, reducing loneliness, and strengthening family bonds, highlighting its vital contribution to community health.
Both organisations are committed to using evidence-based approaches and sharing data insights to adapt services based on young people’s needs. The initiative will also support wider public health efforts to tackle key challenges such as child poverty and youth violence.
Through this partnership, YouthLink Scotland and Public Health Scotland aim to ensure that youth work is recognised and integrated within Scotland’s health and wellbeing strategy, creating a brighter, healthier future for young people across the country.