Our amazing charity partner
Canongate Youth is a registered Scottish charity who has worked alongside children and young people for over 40 years, providing them with a safe space to grow, develop, have fun and realise their potential. They have a commitment to improving the lives of children and young people and providing relevant and impactful services that are nurturing, child led and allow children to flourish.
As a well-established organisation, with a strong reputation within the sector, they refuse to sit still, and as such dedicate time and resources to hear from children and young people, listening to their needs and requirements and designing services fit for purpose.
They are based in South Bridge Resource Centre on Infirmary Street, however they deliver at other sites including schools, the local play park and the Royal Commonwealth Pool.
Canongate's current work is divided into two strands, Employability and Wellbeing and Youth Work Services. A committed and passionate staff team, with the support of volunteers, use a universal youth work approach, allowing children and young people to access services and support regardless of their circumstances, background or issues they are facing. As a result, their services can support with complex issues and circumstances including, poverty, housing overcrowding, poor parental mental health, experience of the care system, lack of self-esteem and hope for the future.
The Employability and Wellbeing Team work with young people aged 14+ from across the city. They've shifted their focus in the last few years to include more of a wellbeing approach in response to the increasing demand for this type of support from young people. Through group work and individual support programmes staff support young people to remove barriers in a holistic way to move onto further education, training and employment. The team support young people to develop skills, build confidence and gain qualifications.
The Youth Work Services team works with 5-18 year olds living in the Dumbiedykes, Southside and Old Town areas of the City and provide a programme of youth and children’s clubs and holiday programmes. These are designed in partnership with children and young people to be fun, provide new opportunities and build personal skills. The team also offers wellbeing support to children and young people helping them overcome barriers and improve their mental health and wider wellbeing through an early intervention approach.
The programmes of support work in a holistic way, putting children and young people at the centre of what they do. They embrace and excel in working in partnership with other agencies such as schools, social work and health to ensure the needs of children and young people are met in the right way.
Canongate Youth are incredibly proud of the work that they do and of the children and young people they work with and look forward to a future of continuing to work alongside them to help them overcome barriers as they make their way through childhood, adolescence and early adulthood.