Who We Are
- Who We Are
  
  We are the collective voice of the youth work sector in Scotland. Find out more about our team, networks, members and board.
What We Do
- What We Do
  
  We drive the funding to the sector. We influence policy. We upskill the sector. We demonstrate youth work's impact. You're here for young people, we're here for you.
Impact
- Impact
  
  Demonstrating the impact of youth work is one of our core objectives. Put simply, youth work changes lives.
Youth Work Hub
- Youth Work Hub
  
  The youth work sector suppports hundreds of thousands of young people across Scotland. Find out what makes it tick and how to get involved by using our one-stop shop for all things youth work in Scotland.
Awards

Every young person has their own path in life. By having a youth worker, every young person has an equal partner to help ensure that path is right for them, working together towards a positive destination. Working in partnership with youth workers, young people are able to develop a wide range of employability skills, from communication and teamwork to leadership and problem-solving. By engaging in youth work, young people develop a robust skill set that enhances their employability and opens doors to future career opportunities.

Through targeted workshops, career guidance, and mentorship programs, youth workers support young people in exploring various career paths and building practical skills. These initiatives have led to significant positive outcomes, with many participants reporting increased readiness for the job market and higher aspirations for their future careers.

Youth work also bridges the gap between education and employment by providing real-world experiences and volunteering opportunities. By fostering a supportive environment, we help young people navigate the transition from education to employment, ensuring they are well-equipped to thrive in their chosen careers.

Impact Stats

of youth work organisations track young people's positive destinations.

young people showed improvement in literacy and numeracy thanks to South Lanarkshire's Youth Family and Comunity Learning Reach Forward partnership.

of participants in Venture Trust's Chance Cycle Programme reported an increase in skills.

Youth Work & Volunteering

A recent consultation with young people and youth work practitioners highlighted how and why youth work approaches to volunteering are so successful in developing young people’s skills and preparing them for the world of work.

Is founded on strong, positive relationships.

Is underpinned by a significant investment in the training and development of young volunteers.

Enables progression at the pace of the young person.

Is a genuine partnership between the youth worker/s and the young person.

Promotes a sense of connection and belonging – to a team and to the community.

The Impact of Youth Volunteering

Find out more about how taking a youth work approach to volunteering helps to prepare young people for the world of work by boosting confidence, increasing skills and providing high-quality personal and professional development opportunities.

Download full report

Young People's Stories

Find more inspirational stories and case studies

Visit our dedicated employability page to find more impact stories, publications and studies about the benefits of youth work for young people’s imployability.

Find out more

In 2024, we collected young stories from 17 young people from various cultural and geographic locations to share their stories about how youth work has improved their skills, boosted their wellbeing and ultimately helped them to reach a positive destination.

Youth Work & Employability Audit

In May 2022, we undertook work with our members to better understand the role and impact of youth work across the employability landscape. This report
summarises information collected through 48 of YouthLink Scotland’s members across Scotland, with the aim of:

Clarifying youth work’s reach across the landscape, to inform a system-wide understanding of the skills and employability offer;
Informing improvement through providing insight into what works through the youth work approach and support;
Identifying challenges and opportunities to strengthen collaboration across the system.

of organisations said they were involved or partly involved in local employability partnerships.

of the staff team with YMCA Tayside had progressed through youth work into employment within the organisation.

of youth work organisations provide career information, advice and guidance (CIAG) as part of their approach to supporting employability.

Youth Work and Employability: An Audit of Reach and Impact

Take a deep dive into our 2022 audit of the youth work sector’s contribution to employability and skills across Scotland, based on in depth research from 48 of our members, both local authority and universal youth work providers.