Aberdeenshire Youth Forum
News First!
We have just held an AYF Action Planning Meeting (In Huntly) Shout out to Inverurie Youth Forum for the fun team building activities! Also to Bethany, MSYP Banff and Buchan, for presenting the Scottish Youth Parliament Manifesto and committing to take Aberdeenshire Young Peoples views to discussions nationally. Huge thanks to all Young People who travelled across the shire to attend and helped analyse the AYF themes survey whilst contributing your own experiences and ideas to make for some great discussions! Young People are AYF.
4 AYF Themes Action Groups live as follows:
- Transport and walking routes - Including 'safe' walking routes
- Outdoor environment improvements - preservation, access and spaces designed for young people
- Accessibility - disability inclusivity and representation
- Education- understanding and addressing local capacities impact on opportunities for young people (subjects and support)
Just 6 months after AYF re-launched young people are nearly ready to share their ideas and some of the actions they have been taking. Thanks to young people, colleagues and partners supporting. Watch this space!
To get involved you can contact: roisin.daly@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
More About Aberdeenshire Youth Forum (AYF) and different ways to add your voice:
Aberdeenshire Youth Forums are young people coming together to understand common themes affecting young people, or of importance to young people, and being supported to express these and even take action to address these. There is lots of different ways to be involved and be included as a member of Aberdeenshire Youth Forum.
AYF Gatherings and Meetings
- Meet in person, at least once a year, with representatives from young people across Aberdeenshire including local youth forums, voice groups, youth interest groups and MSYPs. At these gatherings you'll have a chance to discuss and identify common issues, aspirations through interactive workshops.
- Online gatherings to give more young people a chance to get involved, have your say.
- Online and in person planning for change. When you have identified common issues and aspirations we don't stop there. You will have help to explore the chosen topics and plan for change.
- AYF Action Groups: Young people can get involved in action groups where CLD, Aberdeenshire Council will help thematic action groups plan and take action including linking young people with expertise and resources to research and address common issues and aspirations together.
- We will post surveys and polls here to find out more about issues and aspirations voiced by Aberdeenshire Young People.
- We will also post anonymised survey results and reports here as well as sharing these with all our Youth Voice Representatives including your MSYPs and Youth Forums.
- We will share opportunities and examples of youth action and give you the opportunity to share your challenges and successes around youth voice.
Updates about other youth voice opportunities:
- Receive a regular news about youth voice activities and opportunities in Aberdeenshire; Current youth surveys, youth action stories, youth funding opportunities and invite to meetings. Just subscribe free to this page or check in to see what we have posted.
- If you are a young person age 12 to 25 living in Aberdeenshire and involved in, or interested in, 'Youth Voice' opportunities, we invite you to subscribe free to this page.
Updates on the Scottish Youth Parliament and what Aberdeenshire Members (MSYPs) have been up to: The Youth and Communities Team support Scottish Youth Parliament Elections and the elected members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPS) to represent Aberdeenshire young people in the Scottish Youth Parliament. Current Updates:
How being part of Aberdeenshire Youth Forums fits into Aberdeenshire's Youth Participation Structure
Youth Voice is young people feeling able to express their views, being heard and even taking action on, or influencing things that affect them or matter to them. There is a variety of ways children and young people can get involved in decision-making in Aberdeenshire and Aberdeenshire Youth Forum is a way to help connect all these different groups.
Find out more about Aberdeenshire’s Youth Participation Structure and all the different groups through through Aberdeenshire 'Getting it Right for Every Child' Participation and Engagement Page
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AYF theme: Transport and walking routes - Including 'safe' walking routes.
Share AYF theme: Transport and walking routes - Including 'safe' walking routes. on Facebook Share AYF theme: Transport and walking routes - Including 'safe' walking routes. on Twitter Share AYF theme: Transport and walking routes - Including 'safe' walking routes. on Linkedin Email AYF theme: Transport and walking routes - Including 'safe' walking routes. link3 Responses
Image by Graf Global - Illustrated extract of conversations from AYF Re-LaunchAt the AYF Re-Launch, March 2025, Young People identified some common themes impacting young people across Aberdeenshire that warranted exploring to try understand better the experience of young people and, if anything, what could be done to improve things.
Some of the topics are complex and could take a long time to change but the first step is having a better understanding of the experience, perception from more young people so AYF members volunteering in the Thematic Groups can then raise and discuss with subject experts and organisations involved, particularly those that are involved in decisions about the topic or that have knowledge or other resources. This will help us all work together to understand if, where, with whom and how we could improve things.
This themed discussion is around Transport and walking routes, including 'safe' walking routes.
If you are 12-25, living in Aberdeenshire, please help young people in this Thematic working group by sharing your views and experience of transport and routes that work well or that you think could be improved.
Are there routes you use for work, learning or leisure that work well for you? What makes them work well?
Are there routes you would like to, or need to use, that could be improved? How could they be improved?
Go to discussion -
AYF Theme: Accessibility - disability inclusivity and representation
Share AYF Theme: Accessibility - disability inclusivity and representation on Facebook Share AYF Theme: Accessibility - disability inclusivity and representation on Twitter Share AYF Theme: Accessibility - disability inclusivity and representation on Linkedin Email AYF Theme: Accessibility - disability inclusivity and representation linkAt the AYF Re-Launch, March 2025, Young People identified some common themes impacting young people across Aberdeenshire that warranted exploring to try to understand better the experience of young people and, if anything, what could be done to improve things.
Some of the topics are complex and could take a long time to change but the first step is having a better understanding of the experience, perception from more young people so AYF members volunteering in the Thematic Groups can then raise and discuss with subject experts and organisations involved, particularly those that are involved in decisions about the topic or that have knowledge or other resources. This will help us all work together to understand if, where, with whom and how we could improve things.
Image by Graf Global - Illustrated extract of conversations from AYF Re-LaunchThis themed discussion is around Accessibility - disability inclusivity and representation.
If you are 12-25, living in Aberdeenshire, please help young people in this thematic working group by sharing your views and experience of Accessibility - disability inclusivity and representation. What works well in Aberdeenshire in terms of accessibility or where you think there could be improvements.
If you or your peers have a disability are there spaces, activities or opportunities for work, learning or leisure that work well in terms of accessibility? What makes them work well in terms of disability access?
Are there places, activities or opportunities you would like to, or need to access, that could be improved? How could they be improved?
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AYF Theme: Education- local capacity impact on opportunities (subjects and support)
Share AYF Theme: Education- local capacity impact on opportunities (subjects and support) on Facebook Share AYF Theme: Education- local capacity impact on opportunities (subjects and support) on Twitter Share AYF Theme: Education- local capacity impact on opportunities (subjects and support) on Linkedin Email AYF Theme: Education- local capacity impact on opportunities (subjects and support) linkAt the AYF Re-Launch, March 2025, Young People identified some common themes impacting young people across Aberdeenshire that warranted exploring to try to understand better the experience of young people and, if anything, what could be done to improve things.
Some of the topics are complex and could take a long time to change but the first step is having a better understanding of the experience, perception from more young people so AYF members volunteering in the Thematic Groups can then raise and discuss with subject experts and organisations involved, particularly those that are involved in decisions about the topic or that have knowledge or other resources. This will help us all work together to understand if, where, with whom and how we could improve things.
Image by Graf Global - Illustrated extract of conversations from AYF Re-LaunchThis themed discussion is around Education- local capacity impact on opportunities (subjects and support)
If you are 12-25, living in Aberdeenshire, please help young people in this Thematic working group by sharing your views and experience of Education Opportunities that work well or that you think could be improved.
Are there subjects and support where you feel you have reasonable choices and options? What works well in terms of access to education opportunities in Aberdeenshire?
Are there education opportunities where you feel access or opportunities are impacted because of local capacity? Have you got any understanding about what is impacting capacity/education options in your area that could be improved?
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AYF Theme: Outdoor environment improvements and access – spaces for young people
Share AYF Theme: Outdoor environment improvements and access – spaces for young people on Facebook Share AYF Theme: Outdoor environment improvements and access – spaces for young people on Twitter Share AYF Theme: Outdoor environment improvements and access – spaces for young people on Linkedin Email AYF Theme: Outdoor environment improvements and access – spaces for young people linkAt the AYF Re-Launch, March 2025, Young People identified some common themes impacting young people across Aberdeenshire that warranted exploring to try understand better the experience of young people and, if anything, what could be done to improve things.
Some illustrations from AYF Re-Launch discussions by Graf.Some of the topics are complex and could take a long time to change but the first step is having a better understanding of the experience, perception from more young people so AYF members volunteering in the Thematic Groups can then raise and discuss with subject experts and organisations involved, particularly those that are involved in decisions about the topic or that have knowledge or other resources. This will help us all work together to understand if, where, with whom and how we could improve things.
This themed discussion is around 'Outdoor environment improvements and access – spaces for young people'
If you are 12-25, living in Aberdeenshire, please help young people in this Thematic working group by sharing your views and experience of the outdoor environment.
Are there outdoor spaces/green spaces you use for work, learning or leisure that work well for you? What makes them work well?
Are there outdoor spaces/green space you would like to, or need to use, that you think could be improved? How do you think they could they be improved?
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AYF theme: Rural enterprise and employment opportunities
Share AYF theme: Rural enterprise and employment opportunities on Facebook Share AYF theme: Rural enterprise and employment opportunities on Twitter Share AYF theme: Rural enterprise and employment opportunities on Linkedin Email AYF theme: Rural enterprise and employment opportunities linkAt the AYF Re-Launch, March 2025, Young People identified some common themes impacting young people across Aberdeenshire that warranted exploring to try to understand better the experience of young people and, if anything, what could be done to improve things.
Some of the topics are complex and could take a long time to change but the first step is having a better understanding of the experience, perception from more young people so AYF members volunteering in the Thematic Groups can then raise and discuss with subject experts and organisations involved, particularly those that are involved in decisions about the topic or that have knowledge or other resources. This will help us all work together to understand if, where, with whom and how we could improve things.
Image Image by Graf Global - Illustrated extract of conversations from AYF Re-LaunchThis discussion is around Rural enterprise and employment opportunities
If you are 12-25, living in rural Aberdeenshire, please help young people in this Thematic working group by sharing your views and experience of rural enterprise and employment opportunities.
Are there good opportunities in rural Aberdeenshire for employment or enterprise (starting a business) now or in the the future? What do you think works well in Aberdeenshire to support or sustain employment or enterprise opportunities in rural Aberdeenshire?
What do you think could improve in terms working and living in rural Aberdeenshire now or in the future? What are the challenges challenging? How could options, opportunities be improved, developed or supported in rural areas?
2024-2025 Community Learning and Development Service Report
Who's Listening
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Community Learning Development Senior
Aberdeenshire Council
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Community Learning and Development Worker
Aberdeenshire Council
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Community Learning and Development Worker
Aberdeenshire Council
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Community Learning and Development Worker
Community Learning and Development, Aberdeenshire Council
SC