Youth Work Week 2023 - snapshot from Westray

It’s Youth Work Week, and this year’s theme is 'Youth Work in every place and space’ – and today we’re looking at Westray!

Orkney Islands Council's Community Learning and Development Youth Services Team supports a junior and a senior youth group in Westray – the two groups run alternate weeks.

Last Spring break, young people from the groups joined together to build these two fabulous canoes – in just a week!

They were launched at this summer’s Westray Regatta, thanks to the help of some friends.

Karen Penn, Senior Youth Worker, explains how this monumental achievement came about:

“We were approached by Archipelago Folkschool who had seen the great work by our young people on scale models of a skiff, as part of the ‘One Hundred Boats for Scotland’ project during lockdown – they asked if we wanted to take part in a The National Lottery Heritage Fund project to build full size boats with young people around Scotland.

“Being a community with a strong seafaring tradition, it was a resounding ‘yes’ from the young people – so the team came up in the Spring school holidays and we ran an intensive week-long workshop, in the big indoor event space at Chalmersqoy.

“When we opened the kits, you could see the sense of enormity of the task ahead on everyone’s faces.

“But the young people got stuck in, and at the end of the week’s sessions with Archipelago Folkschool we had two fully assembled canoes, with one coat of epoxy resin.

“The Westray Men’s Shed then came to our rescue with another few coats of resin - one of their first projects after setting up in Westray - so we could get them in the water for the Regatta and show the community what our young folk had achieved.

“People were absolutely amazed at the craftsmanship, and when I passed all the wonderful feedback to the young people you could see the pride on their faces.

“It was a very technical project. The youngsters who took part came away with lots of practical skills using power tools and wood working by hand – but more importantly they came away with the confidence that working together and taking things step by step they can achieve big things. And that there are wonderful people willing to help when you have a shared vision.

“We couldn’t have done it without all the parents and helpers who ferried the young people to the sessions and helped make hundreds of cups of tea, and huge thanks go to Chalmersquoy for the use of their space to build the canoes. Special mention also to Keith Kent from the Men’s Shed who's been storing the canoes for us, and everyone at the Men’s Shed for helping us get the boats in the water. And of course it wouldn’t have been possible without The National Lottery Heritage Fund support of Archipelago Folkschool.

“There’s a bit of work yet to do, with names and decal for the canoes to be decided – so watch this space!”