Youth Work Explained
MYDG’s youth work is not extra school work, it’s not support for learning, and it’s not run by teachers.
MYDG is a registered charity.
We provide a ‘safe space’ on school premises where all children and young people are welcomed, supported and celebrated – providing support above and beyond what the school can deliver.
Our work is about encouraging children and young people to participate in activities that will make coming to school more enjoyable and fulfilling, enabling them to make friends, have fun, learn life skills, gain meaningful work experience and find their place in the world.
MYDG youth workers act as role models, building trusted relationships with young people to help them navigate the world around them so they have the best chance of thriving.
Every week, there are sports that encourage healthy living such as football and swimming. Participants can also gain qualifications e.g. in life guarding.
Boys and girls have separate male and female youth leaders and MYDG is sensitive to different cultural and faith-based needs such as girls-only swimming and fasting throughout Ramadan.
Many young people find joy in creative activities, because they are so absorbing, putting the brain in a ‘flow’ state which helps improve focus and reduces anxiety.
There are activities designed to help young people make positive choices so that they can enjoy good mental health – learning how to handle the pressures they might feel, how to disagree agreeably with others, and avoid unhelpful paths like drugs and addiction, for example.
Holiday programmes are run to ensure the support that’s vital for many children and young people does not stop outside school term-time.
MYDG also runs a youth-hostel style retreat centre at Ratho, near Edinburgh Airport, which provides time-out for young people from Pilton, Muirhouse and the north Edinburgh area to enjoy a residential break with outdoor education activities.
MYDG sometimes arranges residential trips in Scotland and overseas to give young people the opportunity of time away from home, seeing other life-styles, broadening their horizons and raising their aspirations.
Some participants choose to apply to become a youth work trainee with MYDG to gain meaningful work experience which can provide a path into employment.
We’re keen that young people have a voice to influence and shape our programmes. Their feedback and opinions, captured in an age-appropriate way, are important to our evaluation – as are yours as parents and carers.
A Youth Worker’s Story
“I have had a lot of really good experiences through working at MYDG such as getting the chance to go over to Corrymeela (Northern Ireland’s peace and reconciliation organisation) to do a sectarian workshop for 3 days. I have also had the opportunity to take lots of young people to Scotland games and see us qualify for the euros and world cup, this is something I wouldn’t get the chance to attend if I didn’t work at MYDG. Through working at MYDG I have gained qualifications such as my PDA in youth work, First Aid, Lifeguarding and child protection... As a young person I used attend a few MYDG clubs, one thing that always sticks in my memory is getting to go on residentials to Pilton Retreat (Ratho). We would always do a couple fun activities and get a FIFA and pool tournament… I also got the opportunity to go on a sailing trip for 5 days when I was a young person attending MYDG.”
For more information, pop in and see us, call 0131 332 3356 or email brandon@mydg.org.uk