Perhaps more than ever, Scotland’s young people need to be adaptable, confident, and self-aware in order to safely navigate today’s fast-moving and digitalised world. The poverty-related attainment gap remains stubborn, public services for children and young people face pressures, and employers still report a lack of meta skills in the young workforce. Families and communities need precious space to congregate, explore and build resilience in a time of uncertainty and change. Charities and agencies, despite funding pressures, still demand nature-based residential options as a key part of their activities. As outdoor centre options in Scotland have reduced, this provides both learning and increased opportunity for Wiston Lodge moving forward.
People need a place to be, a place to connect, and a place to grow. WistonLodge is proud of our USP as an inclusive outdoor-based residential centre, that offers quality development programmes to young people and the wider community, within our outstanding natural environment.
Politically, there is the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 in the Scottish Parliament, which could see greater focus and resource on young people accessing outdoor experiences – a potential gamechanger in the demand for Wiston Lodge’s work. Furthermore, the Youth Work (Scotland) Bill has just closed consultation, aiming to ensure accessible, well-funded, and high-quality youth work services across Scotland.
Below you can read more on our strategy for the next 3 years, to build on the amazing work we do already and offer our services to even more young people and the wider community in the years to come.