Access to youth work for young people across Scotland could soon be enshrined in law, after Scottish Labour MSP Martin Whitfield launched a public consultation on a proposed Youth Work (Scotland) Bill.  

This legislation aims to embed youth work as a statutory service, ensuring equitable provision for all young people and addressing longstanding disparities in access and support. 

If enacted, the legislation would establish a legal right for all young people aged 11 to 25 to access high-quality youth work services, setting a new standard for equitable provision across Scotland. 

The Key Objectives of the proposed Bill would include:  

1. Universal Access: Mandating youth work services to be available to all young people aged 11–25, with particular focus on targeted support for disadvantaged groups.  
2. Equity and Fairness: Breaking down systemic barriers to ensure youth work is inclusive and accessible, regardless of geography or background. 
3. Sustainability: Establishing a dedicated Youth Work Fund to ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery across Scotland.  

Youth work’s critical role in supporting young people’s development, strengthening communities and improving mental health has long since been recognised. However, persistent funding gaps and geographic variance in provision have left many young people without access to these vital services. By enshrining youth work as a statutory service, the Youth Work (Scotland) Bill could significantly enhance opportunities for young people through a commitment to youth work investment, and support Scotland’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).  

Commenting, Shadow Children and Young People Minister Martin Whitfield MSP said: “My proposed Youth Work (Scotland) Bill would be transformative piece of legislation that would make youth work a cornerstone of every young person’s life in Scotland.  

“By creating a legal obligation for local authorities to provide universal and targeted youth work services, this Bill would ensure no young person is excluded from the opportunities they need to succeed.”

Supporting the proposed Bill, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Nicola Killean said: “Youth workers are frontline workers who make a huge difference to the lives of the children they work with. 

“But we’re aware that provision is inconsistent and children in many areas of Scotland have little or no access to this important support.  

“And many youth work services, particularly in the third sector, experience insecure funding and that impacts their ability to delivery sustained support to children. 

“This bill will ensure that all children have the right to access quality youth work while prioritising children who are furthest from having their rights realised.”

Commenting on the Bill, Tim Frew, CEO of YouthLink Scotland, said: “At YouthLink Scotland, we welcome the consultation on the proposed Youth Work (Scotland) Bill and recognise the importance of this initiative in strengthening youth work services across the country, which the sector has been calling for. We commend Martin Whitfield MSP for bringing this forward.

“This consultation is a crucial opportunity to ensure youth work is embedded in legislation, guaranteeing universal access to high-quality services for all young people, regardless of their background or location. As we work to implement Scotland’s commitments under the UNCRC, it is vital that youth work is given the legal recognition and support it deserves, ensuring it has parity of esteem with formal education.” 

One Community Scotland Project Manager, Dr.Khadija Coll MBE said: “This new legislation represents a significant step forward in ensuring that every young person across Scotland, regardless of their background, can access consistent and high-quality youth work services. 

‘’As an organisation that works closely with BME and disadvantaged young people, we are particularly encouraged by the Bill’s emphasis on universal access and fairness. 

‘These measures are crucial for breaking down the systemic barriers faced by young people in marginalised communities, including those in rural and economically disadvantaged areas.”

Ellie Craig MSYP, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: “We’re delighted to see the proposals in the Youth Work (Scotland) Bill.  

“As part of our current campaign to invest in and protect youth work services, we’ve been clear about the benefits that youth work brings to children and young people as well as society as a whole. The sector must receive adequate funding and purposeful investment. 

“Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament believe that young people across Scotland should have a right to high quality youth work services, whether that be through their local authority or via the third sector.” 

Kerry Reilly, CEO of YMCA Scotland, said: “YMCA Scotland is delighted to support the Youth Work Scotland (Bill).

“Every young person in Scotland should have the right to access youth work as part of their personal growth and development.  

“The right to youth work is as fundamental to a young person as the right to play for a child.”

Supporting Sector Engagement 

YouthLink Scotland is committed to playing a central role in driving sector-wide engagement with the consultation process. We will be running a series of free online stakeholder events to ensure youth work organisations, practitioners, and young people understand the Bill’s proposals and have the tools to respond effectively. 

The consultation closes on 21 February 2025, and YouthLink Scotland encourages all stakeholders to participate and ensure their voices shape the future of youth work in Scotland.