Year of Young People 2018

We are already collaborating with young people in a variety of projects and initiatives including outdoor learning, volunteering, junior ranger programmes and modern apprentices and interns.

This year we’re growing the opportunities for young people to actively engage with the National Park. For us the YoYP2018 is an opportunity to rethink how we engage with young people both as an organisation, and through the opportunities that are available to get out into the National Park itself.

We want to ensure that young people are at the heart of the planning and decision making, not only for YoYP2018, but for the longer term future of the National Park.

Some of our key projects

Year of Young People action plan

We’re co-designing a Year of Young People action plan with young people.

Strategic thinking and planning

We aim to increase engagement with young people in strategic thinking and planning about the National Park priorities. We want young people to be involved in decision making about the National Park and will spend time in 2018 to find the best way to do this.

Celebrating young people

Through our communications we will celebrate the ideas, attitudes and ambitions of young people, in relation to our National Park. Throughout the year, young people will star in and create films to celebrate their achievements, and take part in initiatives to increase our digital content for young people.

National Park Youth Committee

We now have a National Park Youth Committee made up of 15 dedicated and passionate young volunteers from across the National Park and local areas who want to contribute to the management of the National Park.

By joining the committee, young people have the opportunity to work with a variety of National Park staff and talk to us about issues that matter to them, providing vital insight to our work and representing the voice of local young people.

Increased delivery time with young people

We are increasing our delivery time with young people and supporting more young people from a wide range of backgrounds to start a relationship with the National Park. We are doing this through projects such as:

• Our first hosted residential programme for young people. In February 2019 we are delivering the first Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park hosted residential for young people. The residential will celebrate the achievements over the Year and bring our Junior Rangers, Young Volunteers and Youth Committee members together to share experiences and plan activity for the year ahead.
• Junior Ranger Programmes. This year we’re able to offer an additional Junior Ranger programme with the Vale of Leven Academy in West Dunbartonshire. This adds to the already successful programmes we run with Balfron High School and McLaren High School.
• Volunteering opportunities. We’re tailoring our volunteer opportunities for young people.

National Park Grant Scheme

This year, our National Park Grant Scheme has £10,000 available for projects that deliver benefits for or work collaboratively with young people. The grant scheme provides a chance to support young people in the National Park, overcoming barriers, showcasing their talents and providing a platform for their ideas.

Modern Apprenticeship opportunities with West Dunbartonshire Council

The National Park will be offering 2 additional modern apprenticeship opportunities in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council, taking the total number of modern apprenticeship opportunities at the National Park to four.

Our Residential Programme, additional Junior Ranger programme, enhanced volunteering opportunities and young people led films, are being delivered thanks to support from Forest Holidays, as part of a national partnership with UK National Parks.