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.

Surveys, polls, online forum discussions or sharing stories

• 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:

• Scottish Youth Parliament Motions Survey took place August with over 500 young people contributing in Aberdeenshire.
• Scottish Youth Parliament Sitting 6th-7th September with 4 MSYPs attending to represent your views
• The SYP Manifesto 2026-2031 launched Dear Scotland’s Future - Scottish Youth Parliament
• Bi Elections took place for Aberdeenshire East - News soon!

To find out more check our sister page - Aberdeenshire MSYPs | Engage Aberdeenshire or check out what current Aberdeenshire's Members of Scottish Youth Parliament are campaigning on locally and nationally below or check out their social media. Aberdeenshire MSYPs on Facebook

For more information about getting involved in Aberdeenshire Youth Forum, the Scottish Youth Parliament in Aberdeenshire or maybe you have news to share. You can contact Roisin.Daly@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

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