Leading figures from policing, business, children’s rights, and youth leadership came together in Edinburgh today to back A Right. A Space. A Future. – Scotland’s new Youth Work Sector Manifesto 2026.
Leading figures from policing, business, children’s rights, and youth leadership came together in Edinburgh today to back A Right. A Space. A Future. – Scotland’s new Youth Work Sector Manifesto 2026.
Launched at The Lookout, Edinburgh Futures Institute, the manifesto sets out three national commitments Scotland must make to ensure every young person can thrive through access to high-quality youth work.
Together, they represent the foundation of a stronger, fairer youth work system: guaranteed by law, universally accessible, and sustained by investment.
The Three National Commitments
The manifesto also calls for a new National Youth Work Strategy, a National Youth Spaces Partnership, and a national capital investment programme in youth facilities, particularly in areas of multiple deprivation.
It also proposes a national entitlement to 35 hours of paid volunteering leave, enabling more adults to support young people and strengthen Scotland’s volunteering culture.
Scotland faces a “perfect storm” for young people: rising youth violence, worsening mental health, and increasing school absences. Yet youth work, proven to prevent crisis, improve wellbeing, reduce youth violence and get young people back into learning and school, remains underfunded and inconsistent across the country.
In a 2023 national consultation on education reform:
Their top priorities: more funding, more youth groups across Scotland, and better support for mental health and wellbeing.
Speaking at the launch of the manifesto, Tim Frew, CEO, YouthLink Scotland, said:
“Youth work transforms lives and strengthens communities across Scotland. The Youth Work Sector’s Manifesto makes a simple promise: every young person, whatever their circumstances, will have guaranteed access to high-quality youth work. A Right. A Space. A Future.”
David Kennedy, General Secretary, Scottish Police Federation, said:
“A single youth worker can do far more for a young person than any type of enforcement. That’s why ‘A Right, A Space, A Future matters, it’s about prevention, safety and hope. The Scottish Police Federation fully support this manifesto as we must have sustained investment in youth work.”
Catherine McWilliam, Nations Director, IoD Scotland, said:
“Youth work is one of the best investments we can make in Scotland’s future. It nurtures the skills, confidence, and resilience that employers value most. Every pound invested in youth work is an investment in our future workforce.”
Jimmy Paul, Director, Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, said:
“Youth work has been the beating heart of reducing youth violence. It’s not enough to react, we must anticipate and support young people’s needs early. This manifesto is fantastic and I’m proud to support it.”
Ellie Craig, Chair, Scottish Youth Parliament, said:
“Youth work is the scaffolding that supports young people’s participation in democracy and civil society. Enshrining youth work as a right would show real commitment to young people and to the UNCRC now embedded in Scots law.”
Juliet Harris, Director, Together, the children’s rights alliance added:
“Recognising youth work as a legal entitlement would be a vital step in delivering Scotland’s commitments under the UNCRC. It would ensure that every young person, wherever they live and whatever their background, has fair and equal access to the support they need to thrive.”
The manifesto was developed collaboratively with youth work organisations across Scotland, from local authority services to national and grassroots third sector providers, through a series of consultation events, workshops, and sector-wide discussions led by YouthLink Scotland.
Share your support for the manifesto and find assets for social media in our Youth Work Week 2025 Communications Toolkit.