Young Islanders at Big Ideas 2024!

On Saturday 24th August, Young Islanders from Shetland, Orkney, Tiree and Lewis attended Youth Scotland’s 2024 Big Ideas Weekend where we also celebrated Youth Scotland’s 90th birthday!

Group of young people holding young island banners with their hands up, smiling. — **Young Islanders Cheering**

Big Ideas weekend 2024

During the last weekend in August, over 220 young people and youth workers came together for the biggest weekend in youth work, meeting friends old and new, trying new things and celebrating community-based youth work at Stirling University. There were so many workshops and activities on offer over the weekend including Dj Masterclasses, Parkour, 50 years of LGBT+ History and a fantastic big group challenge led by the young people from the Hatch programme.

The Young Islanders Network participants had the opportunity to speak with young islanders from across the islands during our own workshop, and we were joined by guests from the University of Highlands and Islands, Scottish Government and The National Lottery.

paper figures with drawings on and writing about their island communities pinned on a wooden wall

ORKNEY RETURNS

We can always count on our friends from Orkney to join in for a weekend of fun with us in Stirling and it was great to see two groups from the Orkney Youth Cafe and the Orkney Youth Forum come this year.

It has been great to hear from some of the young people who came along this year, here is what they had to say:

I really enjoyed my experience at big ideas, my favourite activity was 50 years LGBT history but my overall favourite from both years that i was there has to be the games workshop from last year – Anja (second time there)

I really enjoyed the Graffiti, it was so creative and lots of fun – Iona (first time there)

I enjoyed it all, there’s was loads of choice and I learned so many new things and spoke to lots of new people – Jason (first time there)

I loved the Graffiti, it gave me the chance to try and expand my creative thinking – Amy (first time there)

two young people on a bus smiling at camera — Realistic cut on arm using special effects makeup

homemade jigsaw puzzle with pride messages — Realistic cut on arm using special effects makeup

group of young people smiling at camera, standing on a bridge with trees in the background

photo of a polaroid picture with a group of three young people using photo booth props

Big Ideas was a jampacked weekend!

three females doing karaoke — Tiree Trio enjoying a boogie and sing a long

group of smiling young people holding certificates — Tiree Trio enjoying a boogie and sing a long

young person holding handmade YIN.SCOT banner — Sophie and the banner made by the YIN at Big ideas

Sophie’s first time at Big Ideas

Although Sophie has been at Stirling Uni recently for her Hatch placement training, she was able to get a different experience at Big Ideas. Here is what Sophie had to say about it.

I had a lot of fun! It was a great opportunity and I’m glad I got to meet so many new people. I really enjoyed all the workshops but my favourite workshop of all had to have been the Graffiti workshop, I loved learning about the different styles of Graffiti. – Sophie (Isle of Lewis)

If you came along to Big ideas this year and would like to share your experience with us, be sure to get in touch and email us at yin@youthscotland.org.uk or if you would like to find out more about the Young Islanders Network visit http://www.yin.scot

You can also find out more about Youth Scotland and the amazing work going on throughout the year at www.youthscotland.org.uk