Youth

Youth groups, primary schools, secondary schools and colleges working with disadvantaged young people can now apply to receive a funded residential trip to a Hostelling Scotland Youth Hostel of their choice.

Hostelling Scotland's Explorer Fund gives young people in Scotland the opportunity to have a break away and discover Scotland through a funded residential trip.

Supported by membership contributions, the Explorer Fund was launched in 2018 and has been a great success, with over 70 groups taking part in funded trips.

The search is on for Scotland’s most inspiring young people for the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2020.

The Awards look for people across Scotland to nominate young people who do extraordinary work to improve their community and the lives of others. 

An upcoming Scottish Rural Action conference will kick start a 'rural movement' to make rural Scotland's voice heard.

Representatives from rural Scotland's communities, businesses and organisations are invited to attend the free event taking place from 26 to 27 February at New Lanark Visitor Centre, the renowned world heritage site.

To celebrate Scotland's Year of Coasts and Waters 2020, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has launched a new community fund.

The £150,000 Plunge In! The Coasts and Waters Community Fund offers a range of grants from small pots for schools and youth groups to awards of up to £10,000.

The fund is currently open for applications for community-led ideas that will engage and connect more people with our seas, coasts, lochs, rivers, streams and wetlands, as well as their unique wildlife.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently launched the Scottish Charity Awards 2020, encouraging organisations from across the country to apply. 

The annual awards are organised by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and celebrate the fantastic work that charities and community groups do every day to help those in need and raise awareness of important causes. 

YouthLink Scotland has launched a new small grants programme to support young people to take part in Scotland's Year of Coasts and Waters 2020.

The Scottish Government-funded programme will make grants available to local groups and organisations offering informal learning opportunities for young people to explore the nature, history and culture of Scotland’s lochs, rivers, shorelines and waterways.

A total of £45,000 is available.

The closing date for applications is 1pm on Friday 14 February 2020.

A new podcast dedicated to rural Scotland and it's various industries has launched today, Monday 13 January.

The OnFARM – Food, Agriculture and Rural Matters podcast has been launched by Scene & Herd PR and Marketing and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and a new dedicated website.

Scene & Herd PR and Marketing are working with industry experts, successful business owners and key organisations to increase public and inter-industry awareness of Scottish rural enterprise and its stories.

Natural Environment Minister Mairi Gougeon joined primary school children from St Margaret’s Primary School in Montrose for the launch of a blue carbon citizen science project, led by University of St Andrews and the Scottish Government’s Blue Carbon Forum (Monday 2 December). 

Delegates from Scotland recently attended the Europe Rural Parliament 2019 held in Candás, Asturias, Spain.