Arran Youth Foundations provides youth work services to the children and young people of the Isle of Arran. Through term-time we have daily after-school activities with a focus on socialisation and skills, including guitar tuition, cooking club, art psychotherapy and Eco Club. Young folk make new friends, enjoy a centralised social hub where island rurality and isolation would otherwise make that hard, and learn new skills.

We also provide daily lunchtime drop-in, an opportunity to relax and have fun in the middle of the school day, where many young people who otherwise might struggle to find a space with peers can come along and make friendships. Youth workers can have regular conversations around eating enough and getting a healthy balance.

Alongside all of this fun, social activity, close relationships are formed with our youth work team, leading to a lot of conversation around mental health and wellbeing, and young folk coming to youth workers looking for support.

AYF provides a lot of holistic support to individuals, with a wide variety of opportunities on the table – therapy, mentoring, outdoor education, counselling, informal chats over a cup of tea, etc.

We also provide young folk with many trips to the mainland and events around the island in their school holidays, helping with their development, independence, and giving them experiences that help shape their young lives and stay with them forever.

www.arranyouthfoundations.org