Young people from Dundee, North Lanarkshire & Falkirk

Young people who are facing significant barriers to their wellbeing and attainment at school are benefiting from extra support, including free travel tickets, holiday food provision and membership to local leisure facilities.

They are using their Young Scot National Entitlement Cards (Young Scot NEC) to access these extra entitlements which are known to improve health and performance in school.

Partners and young people involved in the project celebrated the latest successes of the ‘Attainment Challenge: National Strategic Partnership’ at Menzieshill Community Centre in Dundee. At the event, young people from Dundee, Falkirk and North Lanarkshire who have taken part spoke about the positive benefits the project is having on them.

The project began in 2018 when Young Scot partnered with the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, the Improvement Service, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Highland councils. Together, they offered extra entitlements to young people who are facing inequality and poverty-related barriers. Dundee, Falkirk and North Lanarkshire councils have since joined up and have been working to improve the health and wellbeing of local young people.

Over the past year, North Lanarkshire has supported 400 young people from Cardinal Newman High School and Bellshill Academy with free travel and membership at North Lanarkshire Leisure. Using their Young Scot NECs to access the facilities, young people have been taking part in swimming, BMX sessions, ice skating, golfing and gym sessions.

In Falkirk, 65 care experienced young people, young carers and young people in the criminal justice system received free bus travel and leisure memberships for Falkirk Community Trust.

In Dundee, over 200 young people received free travel and food entitlements through their Young Scot NECs. The group includes 12-18-year-olds who are care experienced, young carers, and young people living areas of high disadvantage.

The extra entitlements offered to young people via their Young Scot NECs are all known to improve health and wellbeing. These are drivers to improving educational attainment which reduces inequality and challenges poverty.

Young Scot’s project, backed by the £750 million Attainment Scotland Fund, gives young people in North Lanarkshire, Falkirk, Dundee access to a fantastic array of free benefits, from travel tickets and holiday food to activities such as BMX sessions, golfing, ice skating and gym memberships.
Closing the attainment gap in schools is only possible by making sure every child has the same opportunity to succeed – including by being able to travel, take part in active pursuits, and make the most of opportunities that may otherwise be inaccessible to them. This project is a shining example of the diverse ways in which young people’s life chances are being improved in communities across Scotland. John Swinney MSP, Deputy First Minister

Every young person in Scotland deserves the equal opportunity to reach their full potential. It’s incredible to see this project change the lives of young people. The Young Scot Card allows us to partner with Local Authorities and young people themselves to provide additional services to support their wellbeing and attainment. Louise Macdonald, CEO, Young Scot

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