Alyth Youth Project
Context
As part of the EPYA , AYP covers the town and surrounding areas of Alyth , with a population of around 3,000 inhabitants . All of our work took place outdoors because we had no access to our indoor venues . We used the minibus for lots of trips , and for activities in the town we had no access to toilets . This made planning very difficult , but the community supported us very well .
Facts & Figures
We worked with 67 different young people , many of whom attended at least 2 sessions each week . 5 young people volunteered to support the younger groups throughout the programme , and this has led to us starting a Dynamic Youth Award group focused on leadership
Locations
The bulk of our work is based in Alyth but we also engage with around 30 young people in Kirkmichael every week . This is an area that AYP did not reach out to previously . Although only a small number of young people from Kirkmichael engaged with the summer programme , these were mainly lowincome families who did not have any alternatives , due to a combination of their rural setting , the pandemic and their circumstances .
Feedback from Young People
Much like the feedback from parents , the young people were very positive about what was provided . They said that they were disappointed to not go to some of the attractions we normally would visit , but accepted that restrictions on numbers prevented that . We received lots of positive text messages . We used zoom sessions on Fridays to make sure that young people and parents were clear about the arrangements for the following week .
OUR HIGHLIGHTS
# 1
The series of kayaking trips that the young people loved - and we were lucky with the weather .
# 2
The engagement in the survival skills that saw young people from Alyth visiting areas just outside the town that they had never seen and learning that the hill is accessible to all of them .
# 3
The connections we made with so many young people and the way we made trips feel ' normal ' again .
29