Youth Empowerment & Support
Confidence, Connection, and Opportunity
YCSA’s Youth Empowerment & Support service helps young people build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging through positive activities, mentoring, and creative opportunities.
Our approach is relationship based, trauma informed, and culturally aware supporting young people who may face barriers such as racism, poverty, disrupted education, or displacement.
We work alongside them listening, encouraging, and helping them find their voice.
What We Offer
Through one of our programmes and wider youth initiatives, we deliver a range of activities designed to promote wellbeing, creativity, and leadership, including:
- A holistic youth wellbeing and empowerment programme combining art psychotherapy, group work, sports, mentoring, and employability support.
- Duke of Edinburgh Award: Giving young people the chance to build new skills, gain qualifications, and develop leadership through outdoor learning and volunteering.
- Youth Leadership and Peer Mentoring Groups: Supporting young people to co-design and lead projects that make a difference in their communities.
- Creative and Wellbeing Workshops: Using art, photography, and storytelling to explore identity, belonging, and emotional health.
- School Based Personal Development Sessions: Delivered in partnership with local schools and community organisations across Glasgow.
Each session is inclusive, supportive, and empowering helping young people discover their strengths, develop life skills, and feel proud of who they are.
Who It’s For
Our youth clubs and programmes are open to young people aged 7-20 years of age, with a focus on those from BME, refugee, and asylum seeking communities in Glasgow.
We work in partnership with local schools, the NHS Community Link Practitioner service, and community organisations such as SEIN and Pollokshields Development Trust, to ensure every young person has access to positive opportunities regardless of background or circumstances.
Young people can join through direct sign up, school referrals, or youth worker referrals.
Our Impact
Each year, YCSA’s youth empowerment programmes support around 50 young people across Glasgow.
Evaluations and feedback show:
- 82 % report improved confidence and communication skills.
- 75 % feel more connected and supported by peers.
- 65 % re-engage with school, training, or volunteering opportunities.
Many participants go on to become peer mentors or youth leaders, inspiring others to take part and give back to their communities.
The togetherness, friendship, and support from YCSA made me feel like I belonged. Comment from a young asylum seeker and refugee.
At YCSA, we believe that when young people are seen, supported, and given a platform to lead, they can create the change they want to see in their own lives and in the world around them.