The “Stay spooky, stay safe, be bright” initiative is an example of how CashBack partners are supporting young people to stay safe this season.
This Autumn, young people in Midlothian have a chance to take part in free, spooky activities that are safe and fun.
That’s because CashBack partners Mayfield & Easthouses Youth 2000 Project’s (Y2K) have teamed up with organisations across Midlothian to offer young people positive alternatives to take part in Bonfire Night and other spooky celebrations.
How it works
Run in partnership with Midlothian Council and a range of Midlothian-based organisations, the “Stay spooky, stay safe, be bright” initiative aims to prevent young people engaging in unsafe or risky activities by providing free alternatives that are easy to access, fun, and safe.
Opportunities include an inflatable assault course, bowling, laser tag, and trampolining. Partners including Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will join some of the events, supporting positive relationships with young people in their communities.
Young people were also invited to create Bonfire Night safety posters and submit them to a competition – congratulations to the winning poster!
The partnership also includes Police Scotland, the Community Alcohol Partnership, Active Midlothian, Health in Mind, McDonalds, Tesco Dalkeith, Lothian Buses, MYPAS, and Midlothian Council Communities Lifelong Learning & Employability.
Providing safe spaces
The “Stay spooky, stay safe, be bright” initiative came about when partners recognised a need in the area.
Lyndsey Ritchie, Project Manager at Y2K, shares “Y2K and several other local partner agencies have collaborated to create a programme of enjoyable, engaging, and safe activities for young people during the Halloween and Bonfire Night period. Last year, Y2K and other local services, provided local youths with positive alternatives to risky behaviours, which proved to be a great success.”
Learning from past years, Lyndsey and the team also felt that more partners could get involved to provide a wider range of opportunities, and boost community engagement.
This year, we aimed to build on last year’s success by involving a broader range of partners to identify safe spaces for young people to enjoy themselves throughout Midlothian.
Lyndsey explains: “Our goal is to connect with more young people and ensure they have access to safe spaces in their local communities, where they can have fun and feel included. Over the coming weeks we are delighted to be offering exciting trips, educational workshops and extending our opening times.”
So far, response to the initiative has been encouraging. One young participant shared:
This has been so much fun, I get to be a big kid and have a laugh with my pals. I have really enjoyed the trips and I would love to do more things like this. It’s been brilliant!
See Midlothian Council’s Padlet for more information on the events taking place across Midlothian.
Other CashBack activities this season
In addition to Y2K’s support for the initiative in Midlothian, other CashBack partners are delivering various activities leading-up to Bonfire Night, including:
- Fire safety sessions with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, including focus on impact in communities
- Partnership working with Police Scotland and emergency services to build positive relationships with young people
- A live radio show featuring a youth-led interview with the local fire service team by shmuFM’s Youth Media team (Station House Media Unit): Listen here
For example, see Celtic Football Club Foundation’s recent X post sharing images from their recent session:
For more information, and resources and activities to support young people, see:
About Y2K’s CashBack 180 project
CashBack 180 is Y2K’s CashBack-funded project, working with young people at risk of being involved in the justice system or risk taking behaviour through targeted programmes to provide prevention, early intervention, and intensive support.
The team provide young people with opportunities to explore positive alternatives to risk taking behaviours and respond appropriately to identified needs. Young people have access to informal drop-in sessions, individual support, and group work activities, all year round.
Want to learn more?
- Find out more about Y2K’s CashBack 180 Project
- Read their 23-24 annual report to find out more about the project’s impact
- Follow CashBack for Communities on X and Facebook
