Who is Young Scot?

1. Who is Young Scot? • National youth information and citizenship agency for Scotland • Registered charity, based in Edinburgh • Established for over 25 years • Supporting young people aged 11 - 26 • Co-located with YouthLink Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament

2. Young Scot Aims To provide young people, aged 12 - 26, with a mixture of information, ideas and incentives to help them become confident, informed and active citizens. We do this in a variety of formats so young people can access information in a way they are comfortable with. It is our hope that the information we provide will enable them to: • Make informed decisions and choices • Turn their ideas into action • Take advantage of the opportunities available to them • Have the confidence and knowledge to take their place as active citizens in their communities- locally, nationally and globally.

3. Services for Young People…

4. Key Statistics… • 340,000 Young Scot cardholders across Scotland • 10m hits per year on www.youngscot.org sites • Partnerships with all 32 local authorities through Dialogue Youth initiative • Young Scot card offers 1,200 discounts in Scotland • 100,000 reciprocal deals with 42 countries across Europe • 160,000 copies and 36 local versions of the Young Scot Books published in 2007 • Extremely positive HMIE audit in 2007

5. Dialogue Youth Dialogue Youth is a partnership between Young Scot, COSLA, Scottish Government, Local Authorities, their community planning partners and young people. A national strategy delivered through local action.

6. South Lanarkshire Local Authority Network

7. Dialogue Youth • Route to connect young people with decision makers at a local level, using new technology • Dialogue Youth partnership with every council • Community planning and service delivery tool • Based on local adaptation of Young Scot services – smartened cards, portal, etc • Giving young people an early positive experience of how they can affect local services and provision

8. Young Scot and Financial Inclusion/Capability

9. National Youth Information Portal www.youngscot.org • The national youth information portal for young people aged 11-26 in Scotland • Channels dedicated to money, careers, training and work and housing • Portal receives over 10million hits a year

10. InfoLine Website www.youngscot.org/infoline • Information on money, housing, health, training and work for young people in transition from school to independent living • In-depth information available in downloadable factsheets

11. Young Scot InfoLine • FREE & confidential youth information service • Freephone telephone line: 0808 801 0338 • 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday • Contact centre within national Young Scot office with fully trained Information Advisors • Email enquiry and text service • Promoting InfoLine at Fresher’s Fairs throughout Scotland and working with partners and intermediaries such as learndirect Scotland

12. Young Scot money advisory group made up of young volunteers aged 14-23 from across Scotland FABY meets to discuss issues relating to money and access to financial products/services for young people Group work to produce podcasts on managing money and develop information factsheets for portal Financial Advisory Board (Youth)…or FABY!!

13. Podcasting • Creating popular and informative podcasts with young people about money and independent living issues. • Alternative way of providing money information • Can include interviews and discussions • Young people and FABY group are involved in the making of podcasts • Inclusive method of delivering information and engaging young people

14. Intelligence gathering consultation with Christmas school leavers in partnership with SCFE and the Scottish Government to inform the production on an independent living/transitional resource Consultation revealed that young people want contextual information in video format, backed up with info factsheets New online and interactive resource in production Scottish Centre For Financial Education (SCFE)

15. Financial Capability Partners • Young Scot continuing successful partnership work with the FSA and Lloyds TSB Scotland to compliment Scottish Government work plan. • LTSBS action plan including young people carrying out mystery shopping in bank branches and providing training input to branch staff • Young Scot supporting FSA Money Doctors network in Scotland and Northern Ireland; NEET intermediaries and partnership development work

16. In conclusion… • Young Scot can support you to deliver financial capability/inclusion work in your area through • InfoLine phone and web information service • Provision of financial information written for young people in downloadable/printable factsheet format • Supporting new media information formats such as podcasting • Volunteering opportunities for young people in your area through FAB(Y) • Access to new independent living resource using new media, in partnership with the Scottish Government and SCFE • Provision of expertise and knowledge on financial capability/inclusion issues

17. For more information… Louise Macdonald Chief Executive louisem@youngscot.org 0131 313 2488 Kirsten Maxwell Project Development Manager kirstenm@youngscot.org 0131 313 2488