Photo by Margaret MitchellThe G20 Youth Project came about back in 2015 in response to an inequality event on the land of 'The Children's Wood' and in Glasgow Kelvin College. Inspired by projects from across Europe and the work of the Violence Reduction Unit and research into ACEs there was a desire to bring an effective Swedish project to Glasgow. A theatre based engagement called 'The Reason I Jump' took place, which employed youth workers instead of security guards to protect the woodland. As a result, the 'Childrens Wood' in Glasgow successfully created a youth based 'G20 Youth Festival'. More recently they went on to secure the rent of an indoor youth base. The group is composed of many different young people who are responding well to a relationship based, hopeful approach. They also work during the day through the schools with some of our young people and run activities like Forest School, art and cooking. It meets three evenings a week in the new youth base, cooking, eating food and running activities which the young people have chosen. Here are some quotes from young people:“The fact they were trying to help me get a job and that man, instead of being like a random wee bam from Maryhill I think they are trying to get me somewhere, help me see I can make something of myself.”“[Without the base I would be] on the streets or in the jail, deffo, cause there’s nothing else to do, there’s just nothing else about, there’s just nothing. We would just be kicking about the streets bored and getting into trouble cause we live in the shithole.”“I like this because you get a bit of time to yourself and like get to sit in here instead of hanging about outside”Have a look at these portraits put together by photographer Margaret Mitchell [view online version]. You can read more about the G20 Youth Project here. The video below shows how the group has responded by delivering food and essential items to the local community.

G20 Youth Project - Glasgow