Cross Nations Youth Work Forum

Youth Scotland’s Chief Executive and a cohort of young people travel to Carlingford to represent Scotland as part of the Cross Nations partnership. The event brought together some amazing young people, youth workers and CEO’s from across out two islands. 

Young people from the Cross Nations Youth Work Forum discussing at the residential

Youth Scotland’s Chief Executive and a cohort of young people travelled to Carlingford to represent Scotland as part of the Cross Nations partnership. The event brought together some amazing young people, youth workers and CEO’s from across our two islands. 

Young people spent a few days discussing and debating issues that were important to them and that impacted young people no matter what country or region they live in. They also spent some time discussing what is different in their experiences, creating an experience-based approach to a wider conversation within youth work. 

The young people asked their leaders, leaders of youth work charities across the British Isles, to hold space for them to continue the conversation and help them share their views with those who need to hear them.  

Irish, Welsh, Scottish, UK and English flag. Below, text reads: The cross nations youth forum. Various illustrations appear in the image: A map featuring mountains, a tent with a campfire, a river and a pond. The map of the UK. A young person holding a sign that reads: Intersectionality LGBTQIA+ local, national and global conflicts affects us all. A spoon, a concrete wall with barbed wire that has graffiti drawn on it and reads: hope, love, peace and a rainbow; a flipchart that reads: conflict and peace, accountability, education, healthcare, poverty, climate and sustainability, marginalisation; lastly an illustration of various young people sitting around a table discussing. The image also includes the following words: Goal, supports, journey, challenge. Innovation, prioritisation, passion, games, youth voice.

Young people attending the event identified a number of issues affecting them across the two islands:

  • Conflict and peace
  • Accountability
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Poverty
  • Climate and sustainability
  • Marginalisation

There's always been conflict and violence against women etc. but what's different now is the accessibility and constantness of it.

Young Person, UK Youth
Young people sit around a table, discussing

“What is it about youth work that keeps you hopeful when there is so much happening across the globe?”

Youth Scotland’s Chief Executive asked the young people the above question. This is how young people responded:

“It’s having you guys listening to us and having these conversations and willing to work with us on it” -Young person

“I got into youth work later in my teens and it was the first time that I didn’t feel like one in 30 kids in a classroom. They made me feel listened to and sat and stayed with me whilst I cried and was like ok let’s see what’s going on with you and find solutions together. Youth work makes you feel like part of a community.” -Young person, Youth Cymru

Discover more about our partners

The concept for a 5 nations youth symposium originated in 2013 when a prototype event for young people, youth workers, charity leaders and trustees established the strategic partnership between the 5 organisations.

Find out about our partners