Young Scot
Young Scot is the national youth information agency, working in partnership with Scottish Councils to provide support, opportunities and incentives to young people aged 11-26, through various means:
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The national Young Scot web portal (the link for this is located in the External Links section) is designed specifically with young people in mind, and contains news and information, as well as entertainment features, reviews, competitions and special offers.
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Young Scot is also a member of the European Youth Card Association (the link for this is located in the External Links section), and produces a discount card with the EURO<26 logo, which is recognised throughout Europe (the link for the discount card is located in the External Links section). The card can be used in over 1,400 outlets in Scotland, ranging from cinemas and theatres, to shopping, sports and travel. It's also valid at over 100,000 places in 42 European countries.
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Young Scot also produces a free quarterly magazine, which can be found in the Sunday Mail, there are 540,000 copies of each issue printed this way and a further 50,000 run-ons are distributed through schools, youth clubs, colleges, libraries and some Young Scot discounters.
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Young Scot also produces 2 versions of a book, which the local Youth team deliver through secondary schools: ‘Wee Book' for young people in S1 and 'Big Book' for those in S4. It's on average 170 pages of straightforward information on the topics such as education, work, law, training, money, relationships, travel, discounts etc.
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A free monthly email newsletter is available for those who register their Young Scot cards.
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As are SMS updates; by registering their card, young people can opt to receive free local and national ‘text’ updates direct to their mobile phone.
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Young Scot also operate a free and confidential InfoLine, on 0808 801 0338, open from Monday to Friday, 10am - 6pm. For more information, visit the Young Scot InfoLine website which is located in the External Links section.
High Life - Young Scot National Entitlement Cards
These are the new cards that will be issued from 2007/2008 and will eventually replace the local smart cards
- Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS): Scottish local authorities are working with Young Scot and the British Retail Consortium to turn their local cards into voluntary proof of age cards, carrying the PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) hologram, helping young people access to the services to which they are entitled. More information about this scheme can be found on the Home Office web site link on the right. The PASS website can only be accessed by those with a username and password.
- Research and Resource Base: The Youth team works with young people, local organisations and council departments to gather information and carry out research into issues affecting young people. The findings are then used to inform services in the future and mean young people play a real part in the community planning process.
- Websites: The Highlands has its own Highland Youth Voice web site as well as linking into the national Young Scot youth information portal. These pages have proved extremely popular and provide direct contact and communication with young people locally. The Highland pages can be accessed from the Young Scot Local Information link located in the External Links section.
- Personal and Social Education (PSE): Dialogue Youth works in partnership with schools, youth organisations and other professionals, using the on line Young Scot Tutor Training Kit, to support PSE and citizenship in the curriculum.