Press Release
Youth Workers Conference and Youth Work Celebration
Shetland Islands Council Youth Service hosted their second Youth Workers Conference & yearly celebration of Youth Workon Saturday 5th June 2010. The event offered Youth Workers a range of new experiences and helped them developnewskills and knowledge to make a positive impact in their youth clubs and local communities. In addition the celebration of youth work demonstrated the positive work carried out by Youth Service's Youth Workstaff, in promoting a safe, social and informal learningenvironment, for young people in Shetland, and supporting themto engage intheir local communities.
Aimee Barclay, Ryan Jamieson, Helen Budge, Martin Summers, Tavish Scott MSP, Avril Nicol, Lesley Gray, Carol Massey, Sheriene Rennie, Wendy Lowe, Jenna Birnie
The conference opened with speeches from Tavish Scott MSP and Helen Budge, both thanking Youth Services Manager Avril Nicol for her dedication towards youth work in Shetland over the past 20 years. Then Youth Workers had the opportunity to participate in a range of workshops including: budgeting, cookery, arts and crafts, sex and the law, healthy tuckshops and much more. The day concluded with the Youth Workers participating in a ‘dance mat challenge.’
Helen Budge, Head of School Service said “I am delighted that Youth Workers had the opportunity to come together and engage in a high quality event such as this. The experiences they gained, I know, will be of benefit to the young people back in their Youth Clubs.”
Brenda Leask, Bridges Coordinator said “It is great to bring staff together from all over Shetland to share ideas and meet each other.”
Tavish Scott MSP said “Shetland’s Youth Workers play an extremely important part in providing a range of services for the Islands’ young people. Where services are designed for young people who need additional help, we need to make sure that all the relevant people - Social Workers, Teachers and Youth Workers - are helped to work together to pursue a shared approach.”
Councillor Bill Manson said “This has been a reallyuseful day. Bringing Youth Workers together to exchange knowledge in this way can only add to the experiences of young people at the myriad of learning and fun events they lead throughout Shetland.”
If you would like further information about Youth Services please feel free to contact a member of the team on 01595 74 4490, email youthservices@shetland.gov.uk or check out www.shetland.gov.uk/youth/