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: 23% of young people in Scotland live in relative poverty
- Affected by imprisonment: 20,000 young people in Scotland live with a parent in prison
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Care-experienced: 11,000 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 young people attending live in SIMD Q1 postcodes)
- 43 Secondary (50%+ of young people attending live in SIMD Q1 postcodes)
- 127 ASN
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 recognise that a standard SU Holiday for young people from Scotland’s poorest communities may be one or two steps too far, so we provide a programme of holidays and weekends that offer the same life-changing time away, but with the extra support and more relaxed boundaries that young people may require.
Motiv8 Holidays are more suited to young people who may benefit from the following:
- a relaxed programme
- realistic expectations around cultural norms, language and Bible engagement
- later bedtimes and morning start times
- shorter length of residential
- higher ratio of adults to young people
Young people are referred, rather than booked directly, through a local church or youth project they connect with regularly. These partners send adults on the team whom the young people already know.
All Motiv8 Holidays are heavily subsidised through the generosity of supporters through the SU Holidays Sponsorship Fund.
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 event
- Become a Motiv8 Partner church or youth project
SU Scotland works alongside churches in priority communities, supporting families who are facing increasing challenges, including food insecurity during school holidays. We seek to equip and encourage churches to provide fun-filled activities such as holiday clubs, activity days, and community events.
Alongside this, we help churches address food insecurity by providing nutritious meals for children and families. These Missions create a tangible opportunity for the local church to meet real needs in their community, offering both practical support and a safe, welcoming environment.
SU Scotland partners with local churches to lead these Mission events while also investing in the development of local people. Our vision is to see sustainable teams grow within each community, enabling long-term, ongoing mission.
If you would like to explore how SU Scotland could partner with your church—or churches in your community—please get in touch with 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. We are currently seeking to develop a third in Inverness and are giving attention to where else we may see Local Youth Projects initiated.
Junction 12
Junction 12 works with Smithycroft Secondary School in Glasgow, and its associated primary schools. They aim to establish and develop caring and nurturing relationships with young people aged 10–18, enabling 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, Ferrywell employ four 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.