Aberdeenshire Youth Forum

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Community Learning and Development Strengthening communities through wider learning.


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.

Image showing Aberdeenshire Youth Forum Structure. 'Aberdeenshire Youth Forum'' is circling various youth groups in Aberdeenshire including YPOC, Pupils Participation Forum, Uniformed Groups. The image is from Aberdeenshires GIRFEC PageFind 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

Community Learning and Development Strengthening communities through wider learning.


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.

Image showing Aberdeenshire Youth Forum Structure. 'Aberdeenshire Youth Forum'' is circling various youth groups in Aberdeenshire including YPOC, Pupils Participation Forum, Uniformed Groups. The image is from Aberdeenshires GIRFEC PageFind 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

  • AYF Youth Voice News 5th June'25

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    AYF Online Gathering 6:30-7:30pm Thursday 12th June:  Join the meeting All young people, 12-25, in Aberdeenshire welcome. We welcome reps from youth groups from across Aberdeenshire. At the online event learn more about Aberdeenshire Youth Forum model then have breakout rooms to: Present themes, chosen by young people at the AYF relaunch, give young people a chance to add their experience and views, find out what else is important to young people attending , promote and try out Aberdeenshire Youth Forum engage page.

    Join the AYF online gathering 6:30-7:30pm, Thursday 12th June 2025 Join the meeting Interested but want to know more. Contact roisin.daly@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or checkout the AYF engage page https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/aberdeenshire-youth-voice QR code in attached leaflet


    MSYP News - Scotish Youth Parliment Manifesto Campaign Survey Chance to have your say in the next 5 years of Scottish Youth Parliment. Closing date Friday 13th June! We know the survey is a bit long but we think it's worth it. Find out more and access survey to add your voice through link Your voice. Your future. - Scottish Youth Parliament

    Youth Voice in Aberdeenshire Spotlight - Mintlaw Academy Youth Voice Group challenge bullying in schools Story contributed by Bethany Ovenstone MSYP on behalf of Mintlaw Youth Forum
    A youth voice group made up of Mintlaw Academy pupils are becoming champions on antibullying within their school. When deciding what issues they found it important to address bullying is something they all had experiences with. They wanted to not only improve efforts regarding bullying for themselves but for future Mintlaw Academy students creating a welcoming environment. They quickly got to work with the help of Aberdeenshire CLD (Community Learning & Development). They have surveys to get feeling on how others pupils felt about the topic and gather their experiences. They have met with Senior Leadership staff regarding the issue, discovering that there was no Mintlaw Academy specific 'Anti-bullying policy' as they currently follow the Aberdeenshire wide policy. They have hosted sessions to address bullying finding that some of those responsible for this behaviour found it hard to draw a clear line between banter and bullying. We also discussed phone policies in school and how it can impact bullying in school. We agreed social media and technology can be a great tool but can also lead to a lot of negativity that can present itself outside of these platforms. The school has developed a policy of limiting use of phones within school for pupils and it will be interesting to see how this can affect trends in bullying in the long term. I wish them all the luck in this project, it's great to see!

    AYF News Letters: We're supporting the development of AYF Aberdeenshire Youth Voice Promotion Group and will be sharing regular news letters. If you would like to receive regular AYF Youth Voice news letters, you can subscribe through https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/aberdeenshire-youth-voice If you would like to contribute news (Live consultation/Events/Youth Voice Successes) you can get in touch with roisin.daly@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Or look out for a 'Your news tab' appearing on AYF Online Page.

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  • Promoting and developing Youth Voice in Aberdeenshire

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    Youth Voice, Youth and Communities Team, CLD, Aberdeenshire Council

    March 2025

    Young people and staff working with CLD, Aberdeenshire Council tell us why it is important that we are prioritising youth voice in Aberdeenshire, including supporting youth forums, Members of Scottish Youth Parliament as well helping to develop a structure for youth voice through working with colleagues, partners and young people.

    Published by Roisin Daly, Youth and Communities Team, CLD, Aberdeenshire Council


Page last updated: 18 Nov 2025, 01:35 PM