Youth Scotland Impact Report 2025-26
“I don’t think that we would have got to where we’ve got to now without the input we’ve had from Youth Scotland in the last few years.”
– BEE, member group
Funding remained the defining issue for community-based youth work in 2025–26. There were encouraging signs, including the Scottish Government’s two-year Fairer Funding pilot and stronger sector-wide calls for multi-year, ringfenced youth work funding through discussions around the Youth Work (Scotland) Bill. However, long-term financial security remains unresolved for many organisations.
In this area, Youth Scotland delivered on a strategic ambition to put more funding directly into the hands of community-based youth groups. Through the Grassroots Youth Work Fund, Rural Action Fund, Safe Spaces Fund and Rural Activate Fund, small grants helped local organisations respond quickly and effectively to the needs of young people in their communities.
Through targeted funding, expanding membership services, worker training and youth leadership opportunities, Youth Scotland has continued to support and advocate for the essential role community-based youth work plays in helping Scotland’s young people thrive – read the full report now: