Ministry at the Margins
SU Scotland recognise God's keen concern, some would say bias, for those at the margins. We are committed to partnering with churches, organisations and individuals for effective ministry with children and young people whose life experience can mean fewer choices, resources and opportunities.
Ministry at the Margins is prioritised across all SU Scotland ministry.
Children and young people across Scotland experience life at the margins for a variety of reasons. We are bringing a focus onto priority communities, priority schools and priority young people, identifying barriers that exist and considering how we may remove or reduce these, enabling young people to engage in SU Scotland ministry.
Over the coming years, we have identified six areas where young people can be marginalised, recognising for many, they may experience more than one area, known as intersectionality:
- Additional Support Needs: 40% of young people in Scottish schools have a noted ASN
- Poverty: 25% of children and young people in Scotland live in relative poverty, more than two-thirds living in working households.
- Affected by imprisonment: 20,000 children and young people in Scotland live with a parent in prison
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Care-experienced: 12,200 children and young people in Scotland live in care
- Minority ethnic: simply through the colour of skin, a young person can experience being marginalised in ways their white peers do not.
We have identified 411 priority schools across Scotland
- 241 Primary (60%+ of children attending live in SIMD1 postcodes)
- 43 Secondary (50%+ of young people attending live inn SIMD1 postcodes)
- 127 Special
We want to support our priority schools with a variety of ministry opportunities.
Get in touch to understand which priority schools are near you; we would love to explore how you may be able to be part of the team.
How you can get involved…
- Volunteer in a priority school - please contact us.
- Please pray for a priority school. Our Prayer for Schools Scotland page will help you register and join our national network of pray-ers.
We provide a programme of significantly discounted holidays, designed specifically for young people who live in priority communities. These are often life-changing weeks for those who attend, as for the volunteers who help to lead.
Motiv8 Holidays provide a great experience for young people who are likely to require extra support and unlikely to flourish within a mainstream SU Holiday. They differ from our other Holidays in that:
- Children and young people are referred rather than booked directly
- Partners send adults on the team whom the young people already know
- There is a higher ratio of adults to young people than at other SU Holidays (two adults to five young people)
- The team arrive at least a day before the young people for training
How can you get involved?
- Pray for our holidays
- Give to the Holidays Sponsorship Appeal - Select 'A specific aspect of ministry' on the next page
- Volunteer on a Motiv8 Holiday
- Become a Motiv8 Partner
SU Scotland seek to initiate church Mission partnerships serving in priority communities. Many families increasingly experience food insecurity during school holidays, and so we seek to support churches to feed children and families as well as offering a Bible based holiday club programme.
Food insecurity Missions provide a tangible opportunity for the local church to meet very real family needs during school holidays, by providing plentiful and nutritious meals in a safe and welcoming environment, in addition to offering a fantastic holiday club.
SU Scotland partner with local churches to provide leadership of such Mission events and will seek to develop local people over the coming years, enabling the growth of a local team for ongoing sustainable mission.
If you would be interested to explore how SU Scotland could partner with your church, or churches in your community, please contact us.
SU Scotland has played an important role in the development of two youth projects helping to make a difference in the lives of young people in priority communities in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Junction 12
Junction 12 works with Smithycroft Secondary School and its associated primary schools. They aim to establish and develop caring and nurturing relationships with young people aged 10–18 and enable them to make positive and healthy choices in every area of their lives.
Junction 12 employs several youth workers and works with a dedicated group of volunteers who generously contribute their time and energy.
The project offers a range of activities within schools and community. Working in partnership with local churches, Junction 12's regular activities include drop ins, emotional and behavioural support groups, SU Groups, outings, detached work and residential events.
Ferrywell Youth Project
Ferrywell Youth Project aims that young people in the Pilton, Muirhouse and Drylaw area of Edinburgh will be valued and supported to live their lives characterised by positive, healthy and responsible choices and have a significant impact on the community - including active engagement with local churches and other agencies.
In addition to the group of passionate volunteers who give of their time, FYP employ three people.
The project offers a range of activities within Craigroyston High School, its associated primary schools and community. Working in partnership with local churches, Ferrywell's regular activities include youth groups, SU Groups and other small groups in schools, drop ins, one to one support, outings and residential events.