User:Robin170491

Big Lottery Fund
My initial voluntary experience started in 2002 as I became a panel member for the Big Lottery Fund - Young People's Panel for the Highlands. This role involved assessing Highland applications to the Big Lottery Fund and making recommendations to the national committee as to whether the application should be granted funding or not. Through participation in this organisation, I gained credits at SCQF level 4 in Participative Democracy.

Caithness Youth Forum
As my determination to improve the local area for young people increased, I became a member of Caithness Youth Forum, taking forward issues that were important to young people in Caithness and helping to provide opportunities for young people to improve the quality of their life.

Youth Bank
Youth Bank is a similar project to the Big Lottery Fund; however, Youth Banks are set up on a local scale. Young people from these local areas become responsible for assessing applications and deciding which projects to fund and which not to award funding to.

As my experience with Youth Bank developed, in 2009, I became a Scottish Advisory Forum member for Youth Bank. This involved travelling to meetings across Scotland to discuss any issues relating to Youth Bank in general, assessing Youth Bank licensing applications and the "Big Splash" Development Fund applications. The Scottish Advisory Forum is the main group of young people behind the management of Youth Bank in Scotland. Meetings I attended included Perth and Aviemore and also the Youth Bank Scotland launch event in Edinburgh. Youth Bank Scotland was launched from Edinburgh Castle.

Through my involvement, I received CashBack for Communities training and now assess the Highland applications to the CashBack for Communities Fund.

Through my involvement with Youth Bank, I completed a course entitled "Introduction to Grantmaking" at SCQF Level 5. This course is provided by Youth Bank.

Highland Youth Voice
In 2006, I was elected to represent young people attending Wick High School in Highland Youth Voice - the Highland's Youth Parliament. This role involved me taking forward issues that young people in the school faced. This could be in relation to their education, recreational activities, services, youth clubs, etc. Highland Youth Voice consulted with a wide range of organisations and council service managers to help them improve the services they provide for young people.

Also in 2006, I joined the Executive Committee of Highland Youth Voice and represented Caithness on this committee. The Executive Committee met once every 6 - 8 weeks to address matters which were arising at full conference meetings and approach the appropriate decision makers to ensure that something would be done to address these issues.

In 2007, Highland Youth Voice went through a restructuring and introduced several campaign groups to address the four main issues faced by young people in the Highlands. Transport was voted as the main priority for young people in the Highlands and I was elected as Transport Convener for the Youth Parliament. In 2008, road safety was integraded within this group too.

As a member of the Executive Committee, I also got the chance to take part in the "Apprentice Day" which involved shadowing a key offical within the Highland Council or Community Planning Partnership. My first year saw me shadowing the Highland Council, Director of Education, Culture & Sport. My second year saw me shadowing the Director of Social Services and in my final year, I shadowed the Integrated Transport Manager for the Highland Council.

In 2009, I took up the role of Chairman of Highland Youth Voice. This role involved me overseeing the work of Highland Youth Voice, leading the Executive Committee and full conference meetings. In September 2009, I stepped down as Chairman to attend university at Dundee and continue my work with the community by starting a course in Community Learning & Development.

Additional work I was involved with through Highland Youth Voice includes the following:
 * Formed the Caithness Youth Action Group in an attempt to set up a youth cafe in Wick
 * Gave presentation about Highland Youth Voice to Highland Councillors representing Caithness and answered questions they had
 * Ongoing petition to the Scottish Parliament for free public transport for young people
 * Presentation of feedback from Highland Youth Voice Transport & Road Safety conference to the Highland Council, Transport, Environmental & Community Services committee
 * Wick High School Pupil and Staff survey with regards to school teaching quality, facilities, etc.
 * Pass Plus driving safety scheme promotion
 * Presentation of Millenium Volunteer awards to young people from Inverness
 * Facilitation of the Highland Youth Bank Celebration

Awards & Achievements
Millenium Volunteer Award - Gold, 200 hours

Young Quality Scot Award 2009

Caithness Young Citizen of the Year 2007/08

Featured Press Releases

 * Highland Pass Plus Promotion
 * Keeping us in the Picture Competition
 * Highland Youth Voice Promotion
 * Education Committee Introduction
 * Technology for Senior Citizens
 * Caithness Community Awards

Scottish Standard Grades

 * Computing Studies - 1
 * Music - 1
 * Physics - 1
 * Technological Studies - 1
 * English - 2
 * History - 2
 * French - 3
 * Mathematics - 3

Intermediate Level 2

 * Mathematics - A
 * Modern Studies - A

Scottish Highers

 * Psychology - A
 * Music - B
 * Computing - C
 * English - C
 * Physics - D

External

 * National Progression Award Sports Coaching
 * Swimming - SCQF Level 4
 * National Units
 * World of Values - SCQF Level 5
 * Introduction to Grantmaking - SCQF Level 5
 * Participative Democracy - SCQF Level 4

Core Skills Profile

 * Communication
 * Oral Communication - SCQF Level 5
 * Written Communication - SCQF Level 6
 * Numeracy
 * Using Graphical Information - SCQF Level 6
 * Using Number - SCQF Level 6
 * Information and Communication Technology
 * Accessing Information - SCQF Level 5
 * Providing/Creating Information - SCQF Level 5
 * Problem Solving
 * Critical Thinking - SCQF Level 6
 * Planning & Organising - SCQF Level 6
 * Reviewing & Evaluating - SCQF Level 6