Our Chair Elma Murray, welcomes you to our Young Scot Impact Report 2019/20.

As the twelve months covered by this report ended, lockdown was introduced, and we moved into an uncertain future. It is a testament to the determination of Young Scot, the strength of the management systems and the flexibility of our partners, that our work continues, albeit in new and imaginative ways.

We face these new challenges on the foundations of a year of great progress in our new three-year strategic plan. Long-range planning might sound a bit corporate. But our approach, engaging young people at the heart of the process, is certainly systematic but never dull. I’d like to highlight two projects that are central to our mission.

The National Attainment Challenge has reached phase two, and Young Scot is at the heart of the National Strategic Partnership. There is no initiative more critical for Scotland’s future. The nation’s economy, social cohesion, fairness, maybe even our sense of who we are, rests on reversing social exclusion and inequality. That starts with young people and their access to opportunities and support. I am immensely proud of the work we have done with partners to help all young people to realise their full potential.

What I take from this year is the confidence that Young Scot, its partners and, above all, the young people we work with, have the capacity to face a strange future. It will be a challenge. But many young people in Scotland have overcome serious challenges

The scope of that potential is best illustrated by reading Bonnie’s story on P19. Bonnie is a carer, and her and her fellow young carers contribute to life in Scotland that is beyond measure. The #YSCarers project acknowledges our responsibility to support that work. But, as Bonnie makes clear, it is also about recognising the skills, emotional intelligence and spirit of young carers.

Both initiatives rely on the provision of information, connections and networking. This is true of every one of the projects detailed in this report. The development of a new digital hub, young.scot, in 2019-2020 was a vital step to ensuring that our technological infrastructure keeps pace with the lightning-fast developments in the sector.

What I take from this year is the confidence that Young Scot, its partners and, above all, the young people we work with, have the capacity to face a strange future. It will be a challenge. But many young people in Scotland have overcome serious challenges; some live with disabilities or with discrimination, some are carers, some are care experienced, some have come here to escape war zones – all have overcome huge barriers to make their way in a tough, uncertain world.

I won’t under-play the scope of the problems which may have to be overcome in the next few years or ignore the fact that young people will be disproportionately affected. But I do know that collectively we – the Young Scot team, partners and young people – will not be held back for long.