Achievement for children and young people
Healthy, happy, enthusiastic children and young people with opportunities and places to go to socialise, learn and grow are key to the city's thriving community. Edinburgh Council’s Community Learning and Development Youth and Children’s teams work hard to make sure this is achieved in a range of venues including community centres, libraries and museums.
Getting involved
Becoming interested in trying out new skills, and having fun with other folk while doing a really wide range of activities, is what it’s all about when school's out during the Spring, Summer and October holidays. All children aged 5-12 can get involved in arts, dance, drama, sports and play sessions, and for young people from 12-21 there are chances to try out some great things like extreme sports, DJ workshops, drama clubs and dance sessions. There is a charge for some activities but most are free.
Outside the holiday programmes, there are regular, weekly children’s after school clubs throughout the city all year round organised by the Youth and Children’s Work Teams where children and young people can come to play games, do arts and crafts, sports, dance, try circus skills and much more! In addition, transition programmes help prepare children for the move from primary to secondary school during the Summer term with discussion and activities including team-building games, digital photography, arts and crafts.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, offered in local youth groups, gives young people a real sense of achievement. This challenging programme of physical recreation, skill development, service to the community and expeditions is an unforgettable adventure for those who take part and a plus on any C.V.
Making the most of learning
Homework clubs for Primary 5-7 children help with planning homework and revision, finding information for projects and using computers and can give children an extra boost to their chances at school.
For teenagers, football, web design and music are just a few of the topics 14- to 19-year-olds can get absorbed in while they brush up on reading, writing and number skills in sessions with youth literacy workers. What young person wouldn’t really like to write their own report of Saturday’s match or put together their team’s website! Opportunities like these are great for young folk not in education, employment or training or who are otherwise disadvantaged because of health, disability, language or financial issues.
Citizenship
From early Primary school age children are encouraged to have their say about what’s happening in their area and to find out more about community issues through clubs like SPACE (Supported Play and Citizenship Education) and Children’s Parliament. Then, from first year in secondary school up to age 25 they can be members of the Edinburgh Youth Forums locally and the city-wide Edinburgh Youth Council which represents the views of young people in Edinburgh to decision-makers in the city.
Travel is a great experience for children and young people and across Edinburgh there have been opportunities for group activities abroad, which has sometimes proved useful in promoting citizenship within local youth clubs.
Keeping healthy
Our breakfast clubs are great way to ensure children turn up to class with all the fuel they need to help them concentrate during a busy day at school, and after school clubs encourage children to be healthy by being active and eating healthy snacks.
For young people advice on healthy living, sexual health, healthy eating, drugs, alcohol, outdoor education, keeping fit and being active are part and parcel of a range of club activities, with sports opportunities offered in partnership with Edinburgh Leisure through Open All Hours.
Community safety
Some young people prefer to hang about on the streets with their friends rather than go to clubs or groups, so Streetwork youth workers can sometimes be seen (with their Edinburgh Council Streetwork jackets) chatting to young folk on street corners and outside chippies.
Antisocial behaviour amongst young people is tackled by Youth Action Teams who focus on early prevention of and early intervention in issues involving young people.
