Young Scot earns silver LGBT charter mark

Rainbow background with a silver circle with bright coloured words reading LGBT Charter Silver in the centre. To the top right is the Young Scot logo.

To demonstrate our dedication to LGBT inclusion at Young Scot we’re proud to have achieved the silver LGBT charter mark through LGBT Youth Scotland. 

The LGBT Charter for Organisations enables organisations to proactively include LGBTQ+ people in every aspect of their work, ensuring staff are protected and that service users receive high-quality support. Achieving the LGBT Charter accreditation allows Young Scot to demonstrate our dedication to LGBT inclusion, reinforcing that our organisation is a safe, supportive and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ employees and the young people we work with. 

Steps we’ve taken 

During the accreditation process we reviewed our policies, services and communications to ensure they are inclusive. Our key actions include: 

  • HR policy review – updated policies and procedures to ensure inclusivity, with language reflecting best practice. 

  • Consultation with our young volunteers & DEI Champions Panel – gathered feedback on how we can enhance our volunteers’ experience with Young Scot and improve inclusivity. 

  • Dedicated LGBT information campaign – while we consistently strive for diverse representation across our social media and website, we have also created more dedicated content celebrating LGBT history. 

Looking ahead 

We are proud of the steps we have taken to renew our silver LGBT charter mark, but our commitment to inclusion does not stop here. We will continue to listen, learn and evolve our practices to ensure that Young Scot remains a leader in championing LGBTQ+ inclusion. By embedding these values into everything we do, we aim to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all young people in Scotland. 

Fiona Pringle