YouthLink Scotland is delighted to be partnering with Creative Scotland to help deliver part of a new £20m Scottish Government programme of activities to support children and young people’s wellbeing.

The ‘Get into Summer’ programme will see £20m if new funding used to create opportunities for children and young people to socialise, play and reconnect this summer.

Councils will receive £15m and up to £5m has been allocated to a coalition of 18 national partners to further strengthen and build on existing summer provision in addition to what is usually on offer.

The ‘Get into Summer’ funding will enable the youth work and youth arts sectors to respond directly to the immediate and longer-term impact of Covid-19. The programme will provide enhanced opportunities for children and young people to participate in fun and engaging opportunities over the summer period.

YouthLink Scotland and Creative Scotland have received £1.25m to fund projects delivering youth work or youth arts summer activity programmes for children and young people aged 8-to-25 that support:

• Opportunities to connect e.g. Transition Programmes, Team Building, and Excursions
• Opportunities to play e.g. Music, Drama, Organised Games and Arts & Crafts
• Opportunities to be active, enjoy themselves e.g. Outdoor Learning, Residentials, Sport and Dance
• Equity & engagement e.g. Accessible Programmes, Removing Barriers to Participation and Addressing Food Insecurity

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

“We have listened and taken action. The £20m of funding will support children, young people, their families and carers to enjoy the summer. Through our partners, local authorities as well as our national organisations – the summer activity will focus on mental health and well-being of our children and young people whose lives have been impacted by Covid.”

YouthLink Scotland CEO Tim Frew said: “The Scottish Government’s ‘Get into Summer’ programme is a fantastic and timely boost to the youth work sector enabling more young people to benefit from high quality youth work over the summer.

The impact of lockdown restrictions on young people’s health and wellbeing has been significant and access to quality youth work activity and facilities is vital as we support them to build confidence, reconnect and have fun.”

Councillor Stephen McCabe, COSLA Children and Young People’s Spokesperson said

“We are pleased that this additional funding will allow local authorities to build on their own regular summer programmes for children and young people and boost opportunities for those who have faced the greatest challenges due to COVID-19.

Read the Scottish Government’s full announcement