Search Organisations

Universal Drop in Youth Cafe with activities and support for young people living or visiting Edinburgh. 6VT Youth Cafe remain open through all school holidays and there is no entry fee for young people.

A.R.Ts Afternoon provides recreational activities to advance education and learning and to advance the arts principally for children and young people that will support their development, increase their skills and extend their outlook (being successful learners) Extending learning opportunities to adults through the establishment of short courses and programmes.

About Youth is a youth work organisation based in the Calders in Wester Hailes, South-West Edinburgh. They act as a valuable resource for young people aged 8 to 25 years old by providing services which offer advice, information and support and by delivering a range of exciting, engaging and innovative projects including open-access youth groups, group-work programmes, outreach activities and targeted projects.

Ama-zing Harmonies is a community singing group in NW Edinburgh that brings people together through music and cultural activities. Through singing they bring people together to network, build community, break isolation and celebrate diversity as well as what we have in common. They engage young people with activities by creating special youth projects.

Asociacion Espanola Alba support bilingual families residing in the central belt area of Scotland, to encourage the use of Spanish and create bonds between the Spanish-speaking people of the central belt and their families.

Awards Plus supports young people who might otherwise miss out to participate in nature-based awards including Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, JASS and others, working with individuals, schools, youth groups and CAMHS.

Big Hearts Community Trust run youth groups focussed at supporting children and young people across a variety of projects. Their programmes are focused on:
– Mental Health: delivering bespoke advice and peer-support promoting positive mental health at all ages.
– Social connections: offering a safe and welcoming environment to build meaningful social connections.
– Equal opportunities: creating opportunities to access essentials for a brighter future, regardless of background.

Bonnyrigg After School Club provides four after school clubs, three breakfast clubs, a holiday care service and wrap around nursery care.

Brass Blast is an inclusive, accessible youth music project for ages 9-18 based in East Edinburgh. They teach trumpet, trombone & street drumming in a friendly, welcoming and creative environment. Their approach is non-formal, with an emphasis on fun, enjoyment and collaborative group work. Brass Blast aims to increase participation in music, particularly amongst young people facing disadvantage. And in doing so, they support young people to develop personal & social skills.

Bridges Project is an independent, local charity which works with young people in East Lothian and Midlothian to help them manage the transition from adolescence to young adulthood and life beyond school.

Buckstone Youth Club provides general youth work with kids 9-12 years run by local parent volunteers. They offer a variety of activities in a relaxed and fun environment.

Canongate Youth supports children and young people aged 5-24 through a variety of youth work opportunities including youth and children’s clubs, employability training, 1-1 and group work support, counselling, outdoor play and music. Working in the South East locality of the city, they provide services that support children and young people to flourish.

Childcare Connections is a not-for-profit charitable organisation registered with the Care Inspectorate and has been operating a breakfast club, after school clubs and holiday clubs in the South Edinburgh since 2000. They offer an inclusive play care service for children whose parents are in work or training.

Established in 1996, Children’s Parliament is dedicated to the realisation of children’s human rights in Scotland. Their dream is that children grow up in a world of love, happiness and understanding. Their mission is to inspire greater awareness and understanding of the power of children’s human rights and to support implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Through their rights-based practice, they provide children up to 14 years of age with opportunities to share their views, experiences, and ideas so that they can influence positive change in their lives at home, in school and in the community. They use creative, participatory and play-based methods to support children to meaningfully engage in decisions that affect them.

With over 25 years of experience and their growing, dynamic and passionate team, they demonstrate children’s rights in action, they support children to influence policy, practice and legislation, and they build the capacity and win the hearts and minds of adults to realise children’s rights.

CLASP is an After School Club with charitable status taking care of 70 children a day from 3 different schools in the Leith area of Edinburgh and also runs an opt-in holiday club service over all school holidays except Christmas.
After-school care activities include outdoor play, arts and crafts, baking and many more!
They have trips and visits also throughout the year.

Corstorphine Community Centre offers a range of activities in the EH12 and EH4 area including a youth club evening and youth volunteering. Other bespoke opportunities are based on funding provision and partnerships.

Craiglockhart After School Club provide term time after school care and full day holiday care throughout the year for Craiglockhart Primary School.

A community based resource offering a range of clubs and activities for children, teenagers, seniors and vulnerable groups.

Dads Rock run weekly music lessons for young people aged 7 or over and their family members. The lessons are open to any family who wishes to join. They offer small group lessons with a tutor.

They also offer 1:1 support for young Dads aged under 30 across Edinburgh.

Drylaw Telford Community Association are a community centre situated in the heart of North Edinburgh. They aim to provide a range of activities which educated, stimulate, entertain for the local community. They aim to provide these services for everyone in the community, children, young people, families, older people, single adults, etc.

Children’s Holiday Venture (CHV) is a volunteering society run by students from the University of Edinburgh. They began in 1963 and aim to provide a safe, supportive and fun environment for the children and young people they work with. They work with approximately 140 children between the ages of 8-17 who have been referred by social workers, schools and GPs. Their mission is to improve the children’s emotional wellbeing, confidence and social skills through free fortnightly activity evenings, day trips and residential camps.

Edinburgh Young Carers is a voluntary organisation that provides respite and support to young people between the ages of 5 and 25 who care for somebody at home.

Edinburgh Youth Theatre delivers weekly youth led extra curricular creative arts sessions for ages 3-18yrs in Edinburgh and Lothians. Holiday workshops and participation in community projects, school projects and outreach work. Fees based participation with assisted places.

Fast Forward was established in 1987 as a charity registered in Scotland and a company limited by guarantee.

At the heart of their work is enabling young people to make informed choices about their well-being and to live healthier lifestyles.

They provide high quality health education and prevention interventions and projects.

Their work began in substance use and peer education, and now includes a range of youth health and well-being project work, training, consultancy and resources.

Fauldhouse Community Youth Target provides youth work, signposting and support to the young people of Fauldhouse. They work collaboratively with young people to ensure all services provided are relevant, successful, effective, inclusive, transformative and sustainable.

Ferrywell Youth Project works in local schools (Pirniehall PS, Forthview PS, Craigroyston PS and Craigroyston CCHS) offering a number of groups and support for pupils.
In the community they run youth groups for various ages during the week, including bespoke small groups when helpful, and regular small group trips to young people throughout the year. There is the option to attend church service on Sunday evenings, as well as residential weekends. They also run 1:1 sessions in the community, offering young people individual support with a mentor. This support can be flexible, and they can respond quickly in times of crisis.

FetLor Youth Club works with young people, aged 7 – 17 from across North Edinburgh. FetLor offers a range of drop in clubs and activities after school to over 400 young people every week. There is also a 6 week summer programme of activities. FetLor also works in partnership with other third sector organisations to offer a range of activities which run from the centre for the benefit of young people across Edinburgh.

Flora Stevenson After School Club are an after school club and breakfast club with 80 children per day.
They also run a holiday club 48 children per session 8am-6pm.

Granton Youth delivers a variety of youthwork based services for young people aged 11+ and opportunities and support for their families.
GY provides open access youth clubs, detached youth work, counselling, mentoring, 1:1 support, music, schools based alternative curriculum, parents & family support, volunteering, outdoor and physical activities programmes.

The after school club runs after school for parents / carers that work, study require childcare for their children after school hours .
They also run holiday clubs – February week, October week and 2 weeks in the summer holidays.

The Haddington Bridge Centre Ltd is a registered Scottish Charity. Established in 1968, the Centre supports the educational, recreational and social needs of the people of Haddington and beyond.

A number of youth clubs operate within the building and they also host the Bridge Centre Motorcycle Project which supports vulnerable young people from schools and through referrals. Outreach Workers operate from the Centre at weekends.

Heavy Sound provides a safe, nurturing environment that supports the wellbeing of young people and adults so that they can:
• meaningfully navigate social engagement and relationships
• constructively manage how they feel
• participate in interest-based music and biking projects, physical activity, and various other creative pursuits
• positively re-engage in learning
• access post-secondary education placements, work experience and employment opportunities
• receive mentorship and throughcare from the criminal justice system back into the community

Intercultural Youth Scotland (I.Y.S.) encourages a collective action of less heard Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) voices in Scotland, creating social impact and justice. They broaden horizons and offer direct, specialist support and vital pathways for Scottish multicultural young people who face barriers to success. I.Y.S. provides specialised inclusive weekly services to enhance voices, engaging heritage expressions and cultural gender equality building upon experience and consistent support with BME young people who face educational inequalities, racism, discrimination, and underachievement in Scotland. They improve representation and participation of disengaged groups through bridging the gap in schools, meaningful participation youth services, wider communities, and politics.

Jack Kane Community Centre provides person centred, regular youth and children groups designed to deliver educational provision and encourage and motivate individuals. The groups on offer include: Girls Group, Inbetweeners (transition group), P4-P6, Males Group, Active Youth and Inspiring Disability. These groups all deliver fun, educational activities which focus on health and well-being and relationships.

LASC Childcare Services offer Out of School Care before and after school during term time and all school holidays Monday to Friday. As well as Additional Support Needs, Young Adult Services and Holiday Club Monday to Saturday. They also run a Community Nursery at Loanhead and Rosewell.

LGBT Youth Scotland offers three in person groups per week:
Beyond Gender: Tuesdays for trans and nonbinary young people 16-25
SmashUp: Wednesdays for LGBTQ+ young people 13-16
VADA: Thursdays for LGBTQ+ young people 16-25

Groups are an inclusive space for young people to socialise and take part in activities in a safe, fun and supportive environment where they can learn, grow and make friends. Young people are encouraged to help shape the programme of activities at their groups.

LGBT Youth Scotland also offers asset based coaching with a youth worker.
Information for service providers on LGBTQ+ inclusive practice.

Liberton After School Club provides care after school and during school holidays for children aged between 4 and 12 years in South Edinburgh.
They offer care for children in need of additional support by providing an inclusive and diverse environment with choices and opportunities.

Light Up Learning (LUL) addresses issues of unequal access to education and disengagement in the classroom. Using a youth work approach, they create low-stress, supportive and playful learning environments for young people who have experienced disadvantage. They place each young person in charge of their own learning and support them to access resources, skills and contacts they need to support them to achieve their potential. Sessions are delivered 1:1 in a school setting.

Linlithgow Young Peoples Project is a community based youth project which aims to support young people in all aspects of their development. The central focus of their work is to foster a sense of ‘hope’ in the lives and circumstances of the young people they work with.

Mayfield and Easthouses Youth 2000 Project (Y2K), is a community-based, youth project for disadvantaged young people (11-18). They work with over 500 young people each year, within a range of services including informal drop-ins, health and wellbeing programmes, single sex work, support for offenders as well as those identified as ‘at risk’ of offending, targeted group work and 1:1 supports. All services are devised and developed with and for the young people, offering them the opportunity, from the outset, to play active roles in their wider community.

MYPAS provides a range of services to improve young people’s health and well being across East Lothian and Midlothian focusing on mental health and substance use needs and LGBT+ support – delivering counselling, art therapy, family counselling, mental health education; and drugs and alcohol support, groupwork and community engagement. They provide a significant proportion of their services on an outreach basis with support being provided in venues that are accessible and acceptable to young people.

Midnight and Beyond supports young people at risk of offending/re-offending on a voluntary basis meaning that the young people choose to participate. The young people are from the local area in North Edinburgh and they use a Youth Work and Whole Systems Approach. Young people have limited options in spending their leisure time in a positive way so the Charity provides activities that they can take part in that gives them more positive ways to spend this time, but also offer support with any issues they may face and opportunities to access education/training and employment. Their activities focus around diversionary/early intervention work and include Midnight & Beyond, OnTrack, Go Beyond, Residentials, Group & 1-1 support.

Muirhouse Youth Development Group has been established since 1997. The group is based in the local high school and works with young people aged 7-24 years old.

No Limits is a multi sportsclub for children & young people with a disability operating from 1 venue in West Lothian.

Please note they are not a drop off club-parents/carers have to stay with child.

North Berwick Youth Project’s vision is to work with young people to create an environment where they are given responsibility and the opportunity to make positive changes in their lives and their communities.

They target young people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged. The project runs drop-ins, disability group, free fitness classes, cookery, trips, environmental and outdoor activities, residentials and works in partnership with North Berwick High School. It also delivers employability support.

Open Door Accommodate is a small grass roots charity, working with young people through their transitional journey from being homeless and potentially roofless to living in settled secure accommodation – tailoring support packages to meet their needs.

After School and Early Morning childcare.

Affordable, high quality childcare for children attending Oxgangs, St. Marks and Colinton Primary schools.

Pathhead Youth Project operates a drop in, youth club and other activities for young people from the Pathhead area in Midlothian.

Peelers is an after school and holiday club (holiday club is offered to all schools in West Lothian) that runs during the full year, offering affordable childcare to working families in Eliburn, Livingston.

People Know How use a youth work approach throughout their work with young people, as all of their sessions are led by the young person and their needs, wants and likes. Initial sessions are focused on getting to know the young person as an individual and building a positive, trusting relationship. The sessions are then designed around the young person’s interests and likes, for example, using sports or art as a tool to build confidence and self-esteem.

The overall aim of the Pilmeny Development Project is to support local residents and groups and to encourage appropriate self-help initiatives towards the identification and resolution of their problems. They work with local people to identify and deliver actions which contribute to sustainable development of both individual and groups in this part of Edinburgh to improve their quality of life.

Pilton Youth & Children’s Project provides a weekly programme of open access activities for children and young people, broken down into age ranges P1-4, P5-7 and Secondary year 1 to age 18. Activities are designed to offer young people a safe place to be with friends, participate in fun and educational activities, learn new skills and have support from workers with any issues affecting them.

They have a range of targeted interventions and support, to children and young people aged 5 to 24. We have a long established 1:1 support service, taking referrals mostly from schools and social work.

Youth training provider, offering Training and Qualifications using the themes of Mechanics, off road motorcycles, Mountain biking, sports activities and employability.

Salvesen Mindroom Centre is a Scottish charity, supporting neurodivergent children and young people, and their families. They provide training for professionals, as well as advice and support services for parents and carers. Their Children and Young People Services provide issue-based advocacy for children and young people across Scotland aged up to 25. They also provide post-diagnostic support to children and young people in East Lothian and autistic adults in East Lothian and Midlothian. They also have a Transitions Service which supports young people to share their views for their transition from high school. Children and young people do not require a diagnosis to access support. Children and young people can self-refer or be referred by parents, carers or professionals with their consent.

Sandys Community Centre have 4 youth Clubs. 3 of these groups are under 12 year and one 12-18 years. One of the under 12s groups is based on outdoor cooking and workshops. At these under 12 groups they work closely with 2 other charities, Craigmillar Castle Parks and Craigmillar Community Grows.
There is a weekly cook group for everyone cooks together and eats together. Boxing from 7 years and all abilities. Fitness classes from 14 years. Bible study group who meet weekly. They hold a twice weekly parent and toddlers and fortnightly OAP lunch.

SASCS provides a breakfast club and after school care to children at Sciennes Primary school. They also provided holiday care, other than during the Christmas break. The Scheme is run by a Co-ordinator and team of staff.

Scoosh is the Out of School Care provider at Nelson Hall

SCOREscotland is a charity based in Westerhailes in the South West of Edinburgh. The charity supports children, young people and families, particularly of black and minority ethnic heritage. The organisation exists to work in partnership with others to address the causes and effects of racism and to promote race equality.
They break down barriers to the full participation of minority ethnic communities in all aspects of civic life.

Scran Academy is a catering social enterprise who support school aged children (13+) facing poverty and trauma to engage in education and employment by accessing the opportunities and experiences to succeed in learning, work and life. They are a youth-led SQA approved centre with a successful café and catering business, and can independently provide nationally recognised accreditation and confidence-building industry experience for young people.

Screen Education Edinburgh is dedicated to filmmaking for all, delivering high quality learning, training and production programmes that develop skills, knowledge and opportunities for young people, adult learners, schools, communities, and film talent.
Through a progressive pathway of increased development of learners of all ages, our programmes increase confidence, wellbeing, attainment, film knowledge and skills, and enable progression towards further and higher education study, and into the film, tv and media workplace.

Smilechildcare currently run an out of school club collecting from 7 local schools in the South West of Edinburgh for children in Primary 1-7.

They also run a holiday club for Primary School children in the school holidays. Various indoor and outdoor activities are offered as well as regular outings.

Space & Broomhouse Hub run a youth club for age 8-16 years on a Friday evening for all young people in Broomhouse, Sighthill and Parkhead and surrounding areas, 4.30pm-8pm.

They also run a young carers project age 5-25 years, groupwork over 5 evenings; 5-8yrs 5.30pm-7.30pm,
9-11yrs 5.30pm-7.30pm, 16-25yrs 6-8pm, 12-15yrs 6-8pm

Squids is an after school club which provides a breakfast club service and after school care for children of a primary school age for the local schools in the South Queensferry area, Queensferry Primary and Echline Primary Schools.

In addition to this Squids also provides care to children aged four to sixteen during the school holidays.

St Ninians Kids Club runs a Breakfast Club and After School Club. Parent Committee, Charity non profit.
Childcare , After School Activities
Children 4-14 years of age (school only – no nursery)

St Teresa’s Youth Club’s main focus is youth provision – 1 x weekly drop in for 5 to 12 year olds (Hays Community Hub ). Also 1 x weekly drop in older group is for 12 years and over (Sandy s Community Centre). They offer local young people a safe fun place to come meet chat with friends or chill. They work with some of the most hard to engage young people in the local community. Their Youth Focus Group brings ideas and helps plan the youth activity programme. They also offer workshops, outings and community events over the year.

Starpic Project is a youth provision in Niddrie, Craigmillar and surrounding communities of Edinburgh. Delivers various sporting activities to young people in schools and locations including dance, fitness, gymnastics and more.

Stepping Stones North Edinburgh are a charity based in North Edinburgh that provides support to Young Parent Families. They provide a wide range of support services including; one to one support, educational group work, an early years provision, parenting based support and support to pregnant woman and their families.

Street Soccer Scotland in Edinburgh provide a busy programme of free football opportunities for young people and adults including open youth sessions, 16 plus drop in football groups, employability and wellbeing support, access to training and qualifications,  regular tournaments, female only groups, ASN and refugee sessions. Their community football activities run 52 weeks per year and include regular trips and additional events and experiences.

The Green Team is an environmental youth organisation working with young people. The Green Team aims to provide life-changing outdoor and interpersonal experiences which transform the lives of children and young people and supports them to learn about and connect with nature, others and themselves.

The Junction is a free, safe, friendly, confidential centre which offers health and wellbeing services, including open access and ongoing support for young people in Leith and North East Edinburgh aged 12-21.

The Loft Youth Group operates under the management committee of Dedridge Baptist Church. They provide a safe, accessible place for young people who choose to come and meet in an informal setting. The group is supported by adult volunteers, however it is a place where young people can lead in the design of the programme and activities. The youth group is open to all and does not exclude young people who don’t attend the church. The group is for p6 – S2 and they currently meet on the first Friday of the month 7-9pm.

The Ripple Project runs youth and children’s groups, these include arts & games-based groups, open access drop-in’s and single gender groups as well as a basketball group throughout the week.

The Speech Language Communication Company (SLCo) Chill Youth Club collaborates with other 3rd sector partners and agencies across the city to deliver a wide range of fun activities and workshops which will focus on supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing. As well as providing a safe space for young people (aged 16-25 years) to come along and hang out with one another and develop new friendships, the group delivers a mix of structured and unstructured activities with input from a variety of organisations which focuses on general health and wellbeing services, healthcare rights, relaxation techniques etc.

The Why Project provides open access youth work to high school age young people, with hot food provision in the South West of Edinburgh. The organisation is managed by a staff team and governed by a board of trustees.

Tinderbox aims to ignite a spark in people – one which fills them with confidence, imagination and sense of possibility, and which enables people to achieve things they never thought possible. Our work uses music and the arts to bring people together and strengthen communities, providing exciting opportunities that support young people to build their confidence, skills, self-esteem, and professional experience. We run a variety of orchestra, music, digital arts, and games groups in Edinburgh and across Scotland.

A committee led out of school service operating breakfast club, after school care and holiday care.

Transition Edinburgh South’s youth programmes is open to young people of all ages. They support local schools, the AA hubs (No One Left Behind) and Valley Park community centre and they recruit young volunteers. They also have an open doors policy that allows people to drop into the garden when its open. They provide educational programmes to young people. They provide environmental educational opportunities, looking at climate change biodiversity and regenerative horticulture, and offer accredited training such as John Muir Awards, Dynamic Youth Awards and much more. They also hold events and bring in external providers to help upskill young people.

Trees and Seas offers affordable outdoor play based learning opportunities for children and families living in South Edinburgh. Sessions are held within local woodlands and along our beautiful coastlines.
Their sessions encourage lots of free play so children can explore and discover at their own pace and in their own
way, while learning and truly connecting to nature. They are a small friendly team, passionate about outdoor learning.

Trinity After School Club provides childcare to children from Trinity & Victoria Primary though open to anyone outwith term time. They are registered as a charity with non profit making status and are a company limited by guarantee.

Urban Uprising improves the life chances of disadvantaged young people using rock climbing. Their programme delivers physical, social and personal development and gives the young people access to highly trained positive role models though their coaches.
They work in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Cambridge and Bristol and partner with local youth organisations to reach young people experiencing disadvantage, often coming from deprived communities. They also partner with climbing centers who provide instructors and entry at a much reduced cost.

Venchie Childrens Project run a Breakfast Club (referrals only), After School Clubs, Drama Club and holiday playschemes for children 5-14 years.

Wallyford Community Centre operates through East Lothian Council staff funding. Offering a range of issue based activities, craftwork, games, cooking, outdoor education, outings and seasonal celebrations

The programme set at the beginning of each term in consultation with young people.

West Lothian Youth Action Project provide a detached streetwork service, youth drop-ins, music club, practical skills training, 1-1 individual support, a befriending service and summer activities.
They are also part of a West Lothian based partnership project Roots- a family support and mental health advice service for young people and Wraparound West Lothian, a youthwork based drug and alcohol intervention service in partnership with West Lothian Drug & Alcohol Service and Circle West Lothian.
A recent addition to the work of the organisation is the Investing in Communities Project, Working Together, an environmental project with partners Almond Housing Association and Spark and the Food Network provision- addressing child and family poverty, through affordable food provision.

Wester Hailes Youth Agency strives to promote, establish, and operate sustainable services and facilities, which integrate environmental, social and economic factors for the benefit of young people aged 8-25, within Wester Hailes and the surrounding communities of Broomhouse, Sighthill, Parkhead and Longstone.

Youth Vision is a charity that works with young people from Edinburgh that are struggling with formal education, school non-attenders, or are not engaged in training, or employment. They offer group work as well as family, individual support and 1;1 counselling; aged 10 to 24yrs.
They offer a range of therapeutic nature based informal education services that aim to develop confidence and self-esteem to support a healthy transition to adulthood and more positive destinations.
Youth Vision’s base is an 18th century farm cottage at the foot of the Pentland hills.