Renfrewshire Council’s Community, Learning and Development team have launched a pilot initiative for young people aged 12 to 15 on keeping safe within their communities.
Called Good Vibes, the programme has been developed following an outreach programme during the summer months where partners working with Renfrewshire Council spoke with more than 450 young people living across Renfrewshire.
It aims to educate young people on issues affecting communities, including alcohol, drugs, vaping, positive behaviour in communities and on public transport, and gender-based violence.
Young people are offered training through the fun and interactive seven-week programme, such as first aid and fire safety. They will earn Young Scot reward points for each activity they do.
The programme has been spearheaded by Councillor Robert Innes, depute convener of the Council’s Communities and Housing Policy Board. Young people involved in the Council’s existing youth outreach programmes helped design the initial programme.
Councillor Innes said: “I’m delighted to see this important pilot programme begin. It will support young people and provide them with the skills and awareness to keep them and their communities safe.
“The hope is that this work will help to both reduce anti-social behaviour and assist the Council and its partners in understanding what our young people in Renfrewshire actually want. It’s very important we listen to our young people as respect works both ways and Good Vibes is designed to be for young people by young people.
“Our Community Learning and Development team continue to work collaboratively with communities and partners to ensure young people and families are supported as part of the communities they live in. I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in developing this project and supporting taking it forward.”
Good Vibes builds on existing programmes provided by the Community Learning and Development team and partners, including Street Stuff which was recognised by the Care Inspectorate as an example of best practice in the recent joint inspection on services for children and young people at risk at harm. Street Stuff has been proven to develop confidence in young people and empower them to foster positive relationships within their communities.
The new pilot programme is supported by £100,000 funding that was allocated in the Council’s budget in February 2024 and will form part of a wider programme of work with young people living across Renfrewshire’s communities.
Partners involved in this initiative include the Council’s Renfrewshire Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Resource (RADAR), Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland’s community team, McGills, St Mirren FC, and OneRen.