A West Lothian project that works with youngsters who are “hard to reach” has won a national award.
Helping Young People Engage (HYPE) has received a National Youth Work Award for their work with young people. HYPE combine therapeutic arts, drama, crafts, media skills and photography to help support young people who are deemed hard to reach.
Speaking after receiving their award, Heather Thomson of HYPE said: “The West Lothian HYPE team are thrilled to win the award in the Arts and Creativity category.
“It’s fabulous to get recognition for the work that we do which ensures some of the most vulnerable young people have access to the arts. As well as an outlet for young people to explore their creativity the arts offer a fantastic opportunity to engage in developing skills and confidence in a therapeutic, empowering environment which ultimately ensures that they can move on to their positive next step.
“As a team we are so proud to be able to come together and make a difference to the lives of the young people we work with. This award is dedicated to them.”
The Arts and Creativity award this year is proudly sponsored by Creative Scotland, who enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life.
The award recognises individuals or groups who have been highly successful in encouraging young people’s participation in the arts through a youth work approach.
HYPE are targeting inequality and removing barriers to access the arts, and are demonstrating effective partnership working between the arts and youth work sector.
The National Youth Work Awards 2020 are all about celebrating the power of incredible youth work and the vital role of Scotland’s 70,000 youth work volunteers and staff in the lives of our young people.
This national event is co-designed with young people, who have been involved in the judging and the planning of the night.
The awards dinner took place on Wednesday, March 12, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow, hosted by BAFTA award winning actress, Jane McCarry, aka ‘Isa’ from Still Game.
To get involved visit the YouthLink Scotland website at www.youthlinkscotland.org.
