Campaign launched in Scotland

The campaign was launched in Scotland at the Scottish parliament on 31st October 2007, with young people from YMCAs around Scotland taking part and lobbying their MSPs.

The campaign was launched in Scotland on 31st October. Fifteen young people from Perth, Kirkcaldy and Bellshill & Mossend YMCA’s came together for the launch at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Throughout the day they met with their MSPs (Members of Scottish Parliament). They put their ideas to them on how to tackle youth justice in Scotland and called on them to support the campaign.

For Craig Durning (Perth YMCA) there were plenty of issues to challenge the MSPs:

“The issue of Antisocial Behaviour orders is a prominent one in our community, as is that of drug and alcohol abuse, self harm and suicide, provision of activities for young people, and the way in which young people are seen in the media, by the police and by their communities in general”.

The young people challenged their politicians about Anti Social Behaviour orders (ASBOs). They believe that they shouldn’t be dished out so easily for behaviour which can be dealt with in other ways, especially when they stay on someone’s record for so long.

Many of the young people spoke about how they felt discriminated against by the police. They suggested that they wanted the opportunity to talk to the police and start to build a relationship with them and break down some of the barriers which have been built in their community.

The media was also high on the agenda for the day. Most of the group were fed up of the negative portrayal of young people in the press. The MSPs were shocked to hear that a newspaper had been to photograph a young person at Bellshill YMCA but didn’t print the picture. When the young people asked why, they were told that they had to put negative news first in the paper!

The day was a success, with the group feeling that their views had been heard:

“The MSPs did actually listen to what we said and genuinely took it in”

Keith Gardiner, Perth YMCA

But this is just the start. YMCA Scotland plan to take the campaign much further. When asked the most important issue they thought YMCA Scotland should tackle, most of the young people agreed it was early intervention – working with young people from an early age before they reach their teens.