Membership Spotlight highlights the work of our member organisations and outlines how other individuals and NGOs can support them. We are shining the light on Winning Scotland, last month they held their first ever National Learning Event for Planet Youth in Scotland, an evidence-based approach to helping our young people live healthier and happier lives. Winning Scotland have nearly been a member of Together for nearly four years.

Winning Scotland

Winning Scotland is a charity organisation that acts as a catalyst for change. Working with like-minded partners, we build confidence and resilience in all of Scotland’s children and young people by empowering the people who support them in their everyday lives (teachers, parents, and carers). 

Collaborating with a range of partners we collectively develop innovative resources and practical solutions that improve outcomes for children and young people across the country. 

Find out more about us: www.winningscotland.org

What have you been working on? 

Last month we held the first ever National Learning Event for Planet Youth in Scotland, an evidence-based approach to helping our young people live healthier and happier lives. 

With speakers including author and broadcaster Graeme Armstrong, Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy Christina McKelvie , Paul Johnston Chief Executive of Public Health Scotland, Lorraine Gillies of Scottish Community Safety Network, Jimmy Paul Head of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and special guests from Planet Youth in Iceland, we wanted to provide a space for people to come together to learn, share ideas and – most importantly – find practical ways of embedding prevention into their work. All of these people and delegates are passionate about improving lives and creating communities where young people can flourish for generations to come. 

Planet Youth is an innovative approach that could change things for all our children, teens, and families in Scotland. It aims to empower young people to make good decisions that will make them more positive and active, and this is achieved by harnessing the power of the communities within which they live and thrive. Through the Planet Youth approach, communities listen to the needs of their young people, and action plan ideas that can be upstreamed to benefit future generations in the long term. 

Winning Scotland has led the development, delivery and implementation of Planet Youth in Scotland since 2021 working with partners across Scotland including Dundee, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, West Dunbartonshire, and Highland. 

The event also featured interactive workshops on what Planet Youth is, how prevention works in practice, working on long-term success, the effectiveness of community engagement, and empowering parental engagement. We were delighted to have participants from across the public, private and third sector including health board, police, youth work, the Promise, charity organisations, and educators. 

Planet Youth’s approach aligns closely with children’s rights, emphasising the importance of family support, happiness, access to leisure activities and participation in decision-making. By actively engaging young people through the surveys and respecting their perspectives, Planet Youth embodies Articles 12 and 13, fostering a culture where children can share their opinions freely and these views are not just heard, but valued in influencing change in their community. They are empowering families to enact change based on data-driven insights.  

As well as Family being one of the 4 domains, another key area is Leisure time which recognises the importance of how children and young people are spending their time outside of education. Children’s rights articles 15 & 31 detail the importance of children having access to hobbies and recreational activities. Planet Youth utilises the data to improve these opportunities with a localised lens on what will work within their local communities. As we reflect on the Learning Event and the momentum felt in the room. It is clear that through collaborative efforts, we can continue to advocate for the rights of our bairns across Scotland and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for their future. 

Find out more: https://www.planetyouth.scot/resources#learning-event  

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• Are you a Together organisational member and would like to collaborate for a Membership Spotlight? Email: caitlin@togetherscotland.org.uk

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