We'll be back soon!
Intercultural Youth Scotland's page is currently being refreshed but we are still running as normal.
Intercultural Youth Scotland (IYS) is Scotland’s leading charity for young Black People and young People of Colour (BPoC). We are a community, a service and a voice for young people, providing a safe space and place to nurture their growth. Our services cover a wide range from Youth Work, Education, Advocacy and Employability to a free Mental Health Service that is the first of its kind for young BPoC in Scotland.
We run services out of our office near Haymarket in Edinburgh at 48 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5DE, including our weekly youth club every Tuesday (4pm-8pm).
To keep up to date with IYS activities and what's new, connect with us on Instagram, Facebook and X.
If you would like to contact IYS to find out more information, please email: info@interculturalyouthscotland.org
Otherwise, our services are still working hard in the background. To find out more information or to get involved with future projects, we recommend that you reach out to our team members specifically. Find out more information on the active services below:
Reach out to our team!
YOUTHWORK
The IYS Youth Work team are dedicated to offering young people safe spaces to develop interpersonal skills, share and learn about identity and encourage leadership development.
Our weekly youth club, The Block, is a consistent place to chill and connect with other young people. The Block runs every Tuesday, 4-8pm and this is open to all young people aged 14-25. Whether it is craft making, open mic, writing workshops or many more, we have loads of different activities to get involved with. Otherwise, you can just come hang out and meet others!
You can also book time in our Block Beats Studio where you can work 1-1 with our producer and create a beat tailored specifically to your sound. The studio is open to all artists of all abilities. We offer a space to record and create in an open non-judgmental place whether you are a seasoned recording artist or this is your first time.
To find out more about Youth Work or to get involved, please email our Youth Work Lead, Samir:
samir@interculturalyouthscotland.org
ADVOCACY
The IYS Advocacy Team works alongside young people aged 16-25, creating spaces where they can actively shape policies on equality within the Scottish Government.
We’re dedicated to empowering young BPoC to be heard, ensuring their ideas influence real change in policy-making. Through long-term projects and genuine co-production, we make sure their contributions have lasting impact.
Our team leads Anti-Racist initiatives that involve paid, meaningful collaboration. For example, in our recent project focused on anti-racism in education, we worked with 15 Youth Ambassadors who shared their recommendations directly with Scottish Government representatives. This approach to anti-racism is rooted in safe, sustainable, and impactful work that puts young people at the core.
If you’re interested in becoming a Youth Ambassador with IYS or want to find out more, please contact our Policy Lead, Zara and Youth Advocacy Lead, Miura:
zara@interculturalyouthscotland.org
miura@interculturalyouthscotland.org
EDUCATION
The IYS Education Team is dedicated to centering the voices and experiences of young students in all our anti-racist work. Our aim is to empower young people to make informed choices on the best ways to address racism in their schools.
Our Education Programme works holistically within school structures to ensure student-led, informed anti-racist change. At IYS, we believe in creating sustainable, long-term impact in Scottish schools. By meeting schools and staff where they are, we take a tailored approach to address the complex ways racism manifests systemically.
As part of this programme, an Anti-Racist Pro-Black Educator is placed at each school one day a week to lead activities and support anti-racist efforts in partnership with students and staff. We also facilitate anti-racist lunch clubs, providing young people a safe space to connect and learn.
For more information on our Education Work, please reach out to our Education Manager:
rianna@interculturalyouthscotland.org
COMMS
The IYS Communications Team amplifies the voices of young BPoC through creating campaigns, events and building partnerships to engage with the community. We forge and maintain partnerships with like-minded organisations to expand opportunities for young people, spotlighting their creative talents and perspectives in public spaces.
Through events and community panels, we create platforms for dialogue on anti-racism and inclusivity, giving young people a stage to lead conversations.
From online campaigns to in-person events, we ensure young people feel seen, heard, and celebrated. We work to make sure these partnerships and events are safe, inclusive, and begin important conversations within our communities.
To learn more about our COMMS team or to get involved, please email our Communications Manager, Sara:
sarae@interculturalyouthscotland.org
MENTAL
HEALTH
Our Mental Health Service offers free counselling for young BPoC aged
12-25 based in Scotland.
Counselling or therapy aims to create a safe space for you to discuss anything that may be causing you distress, concern or uneasiness, is not limited to any specific subject, life event or experience.
The service is delivered by specialised counsellors who all have an understanding of racial trauma and centre race and racism in their practice. You can access our counselling service online, with up to 12 confidential and free counselling sessions available, depending on your needs.
IYS counsellors and practitioners are committed to speaking openly about issues of race, racism and how those affect young people's lived experience and mental health. We offer sessions in a multitude of languages including Arabic, Yoruba, English and more.
Although we are currently on pause, if you have any questions about the Mental Health Service please reach out to our Interim Chief Executive Officer, Garvin:
garvin@interculturalyouthscotland.org
EMPLOYABILITY
Our Employability team helps young people with support at every stage of their journey in securing their next career, education, training or volunteering opportunity. Our practitioners are available for 1-1 sessions to learn more about your interests and what hopes you have for the future (...it’s okay if you don't know!) and we then help connect you with opportunities in industry, get you on a work placement, develop a business plan with you or help build your confidence until you feel comfortable taking the next step.
It’s tailored to you and what you need from us! In the past, we have supported young people into careers including medicine, acting, journalism, writing,
engineering and tech.
Our services cover a range of areas to ensure positive destinations, including:
- Job and opportunity searching
- Building confidence
- UCAS admissions and getting into university
- Landing an apprenticeship
- Parents and guardians who may have cultural and language barriers and need support to understand options
- Finding a post-grad role
- 1-to-1 CV & Cover Letter writing
- Accessing workplace or school accommodations for deaf/disabled
young BPoC
If you would like to access the Employability Service or are keen to find out more, please reach out to our Interim Chief Executive Officer, Garvin:
garvin@interculturalyouthscotland.org