It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken people

I recently attended the Planet Youth Scotland Learning Event, which was held in Glasgow, and returned with one clear takeaway. It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken people.

This sentiment rings so true with me and makes me consider how our activities at New Start Highland put this theory into practice.

Planet Youth is a new evidence led upstream primary prevention model that helps young people make better decisions around drugs and alcohol. Scotland has joined its global community of over 30 countries investing in its approaches and these approaches are working. In Iceland, Planet Youth initiated a huge decrease in teenage drinking and smoking and increased physical activity levels. It has also reported a clear drop in youth offending and implements quick action against newer threats that appear.

We live in a society that focusses on individual responsibility, but instead, we should concentrate on how we alter the environment around that individual to create meaningful change.

It’s so important we engage with young people in our communities. And not just engage with them but listen to them and empower them. Empower them with confidence, with hope and with skills. Hope is a precious compass, but it needs a roadmap to be delivered.

At New Start Highland we are naively ambitious in how we can create change in the lives of those who need it. Our purpose is to support people experiencing vulnerability issues overcome poverty, crisis and social isolation, providing help, guidance and practical tools to boost health, improve education and create aspirations. We offer volunteer opportunities and supported placements which give young people a unique combination of practical work experience and accredited qualifications. We offer support programs to people to improve their life skills in various areas like numeracy, literacy, cooking or energy efficiency. And in our New Start Highland Gardens, we offer a positive therapeutic environment for people to learn about nature and connect with one another through the power of growth.

People need three key ingredients to thrive - connection, belonging and fulfilment. At New Start Highland, whether it’s working in our bike refurbishment workshop, being part of our warehouse team, or packing furniture packs for people taking on a new housing tenancy, these are three boxes we always strive to tick.

And sometimes, it’s not an organisation that can be the catalyst for change. It can just be one person, which is more than enough. Graeme Armstrong, who spoke at the Planet Youth Scotland event, is the author of the brilliant The Young Team and is now even more prolific following his recent BBC documentary. He cited his secondary school head teacher. One teacher who saw his value and helped him gain confidence to break free from his life of gangs, heavy drinking and fighting. His words were ‘when people believe in you, it can be life changing.’

I would encourage any person of influence to look past behaviour so they can see the potential in people. Because every single person on this planet has potential. But it’s up to us as a society to create the change to ensure that potential flourishes and does not get drowned out by the noise.

James Dunbar, Chief Executive