Young People

The Highland Council, in partnership with the Highland Community Planning Partnership is committed to creating increased opportunities for young people to become involved in their communities, in service development and in the decision making processes.  The aim of the Highland Community Planning Partnership is to make Highland 'the very best part of Scotland in which to be young'.

A major initiative to come from our development work with young people is the Highland Youth Voice.  The Youth Voice is an elected body of young people drawn from every area of Highland.  The young people have a wide range of opportunities to 'have their say' and are also involved in taking forward their own agenda and tackling issues that are important to them.  Further information on the Youth Voice can be found on their web site the link for which is located in External Links section.  

The Youth Work Policy developed in 2006 can be downloaded from the Current Documents section. This sets out the new structure for Youth Work in Highlands and includes a strategic team in Inverness and a network of Youth Developments Officers in the 29 Integrated Learning Communities, based around school groupings.

There is also now a full time Youth Convener. This is the second year of the post and is the first of its kind in Scotland and is based in the Youth Development Team of Education, Culture and Sport and is a key representative of young people in Highland at various committee, staff and youth meetings.
 
Principal Youth Development Officer: Pablo Mascarenhas
e-mail: pablo.mascarenhas@highland.gov.uk
Tel: 01463 702026  Fax: 01463 711177

Senior Youth Development Officer - Achievement: Rebecca Raynes
e-mail: rebecca.raynes@highland.gov.uk
Tel:  01463 702053

Senior Youth Development Officer - Engagement:  Mike Jones
e-mail: mike.jones3@highland.gov.uk
Tel:  01463 702067

Senior Youth Development Officer - Participation: Audrey Anthoney
e-mail: audrey.anthoney@highland.gov.uk
Tel:  01463 702043

Youth Convener - Catriona Burns
e-mail: catriona.burns@highland.gov.uk
Tel: 01463 702835

HandsOnScotland

The HandsOnScotland Website is an online resource for anybody working with children and young people. It is a one-stop shop for practical information and techniques on how to respond helpfully to children and young people's troubling behaviour, build up their self-esteem and promote their positive mental wellbeing. For more information please visit the web site at www.handsonscotland.co.uk The website was commissioned by the Scottish Government through Heads up Scotland and was developed by Playfield Institute (NHS Fife) in partnership with Barnardo's and the University of Dundee.