Our National Lottery funded Youth Ambassadors Young Start project (Oct 2022 – Nov 2025) has helped us to build on the strong foundations established during this three-year project. This report highlights the progress and activities delivered across southwest Edinburgh—particularly in Wester Hailes—demonstrating how the Young Start project evolved over time to respond to the needs of balck and minority ethnic young people and the wider community.
The main outcome of this project was for young people aged from 11 to 18 years old to create an ambassador’s programme, to be a cross-cultural learning project which would include a nti-racist peer education delivered to local young people
(mainly from minority ethinic backgrounds) to open up discussions around racism, race hate crime, colonisation, power and privilege, as well as creating a space to share heritage, traditions and cultures. The project was designed to engage with young people through our existing partnerships with local youth clubs and community spaces.
The young people we worked with faced multiple intersectional barriers, including language, poverty, racism—particularly within the local community—Islamophobia, and exposure to crime. These challenges often resulted in social isolation, mental health issues, and a sense of disconnection from the wider community. This project was designed to enable young people to engage with their local community through positive relationship-building, learning about local services, and sharing experiences.
During the past three years of delivering this project we have focused on dismantling barriers that limit young people’s participation by offering meaningful opportunities for positive engagement. We believe that this project has empowered young people to contribute to community learning and development. Through engaging activities and workshops, we have supported their active involvement across social, political, cultural, and economic spheres, fostering a strong sense of belonging and confidence within our communities.
Read the full report here
For more information contact us on 0131 442 2341 or email info@scorescotland.org.uk
