Arran Youth Foundations was established as a non-profit making charity as a company under guarantee in 2008.
Our goal is to establish a drop-in centre for the youth on Arran, who often hang around the streets of Brodick of an evening with very little to do.

Based in Brodick, the centre is a safe, warm environment where young people can engage in fun and meaningful youth work activities, sharing a laugh with friends and assisting them to reach their potential through activities of their choice.

Through the gradual development of their management skills and with ever-increasing young person involvement, it is hoped that in time the young people will administer the centre themselves, through the supervision and mentorship of Graeme, our full-time Youth Work Project Manager.

We have recently undertaken the project of fundraising for and eventually building a purpose-built facility from which to run our activities as the current portacabin is temporary and very limiting.

THE COMMITTEE

Our charity has three trustees (Helen, Angus and John) and a committee who meet on a monthly basis to discuss the progress of the project. We also have one full-time employee. Those involved with AYF are detailed below:

Angus Adamson (Trustee)

Angus is one of the Trustees responsible for setting and maintaining the vision, mission and values of the charity. Along with the other Trustees, he is responsible for tasks involved with the charity such as developing strategy, setting up employment procedures and establishing and monitoring policies. It is also his responsibility to ensure: compliance with governing documents; accountability; and compliance with the law.

Dorothy Campling (Committee Member)

In her role as a Committee Member, Dorothy fulfills a mentoring role for Graeme, our charity's youth worker – someone with whom he can arrange to meet and share concerns, thoughts or problems which he may not want to raise with his line manager or indeed anyone else. Dorothy will also liaise with the Arran Council for Voluntary Service, as well as taking responsibility as minute secretary at the Executive Committee meetings.

Michael Campling (Safeguarding Officer)

In his role as Safeguarding Officer, Michael's responsibilities include being the named contact to whom any Child Protection concerns should be reported. In such an instance Michael will then report to appropriate authorities, while respecting confidentiality. In this role he will also keep up-to-date with the latest Child Protection training through our affiliation with Youth Scotland, as well as taking responsibility for our Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme checks.

Graeme Johnston (Youth Work Project Manager)

Graeme is the employee of the charity in his role as Youth Work Project Manager, and his responsibilities include engaging with the young people of Arran and building relationships with them through the charitable activities of Arran Youth Foundations – weekly after-school clubs – for which he is responsible for planning and delivering. He is also responsible for building relationships and working with volunteers, and creating and maintaining links with other community groups. Graeme also performs the tasks of a fundraiser, applying to grants that help sustain the AYF project.

Helen Kerr (Chairperson / Fundraiser)

Helen's responsibilities as Chairperson include helping to manage and lead the organisation's affairs, keeping things on the right lines, as well as supporting and encouraging other members, including the charity's employee. She also prepares the agenda for and chairs the meetings. Helen also fulfills the role of the charity's Fundraiser, securing salary and other costs that the project needs to continue.

John McCarthy (Treasurer / Trustee)

In addition to the roles and responsibilities that John has as a Trustee, noted earlier, he also fulfills the role of charity Treasurer. This comes with the responsibility of ensuring the fiscal assets (money and property) of the charity are properly managed. John performs many tasks in this role: keeping accurate, up-to-date financial records; dealing with banking; regularly reporting to the charity's committee; ensuring that all bills are paid promptly; preparing projected budgets; producing end-of-year accounts; ensuring that funds are being spent in accordance with the charity's objectives and that money given for a specific purpose can be seen to have been used correctly; and finally, dealing with the employee's wages and expenses, and all HMRC business associated.

Lesley Murray (Committee Member)

Lesley's main role is as Graeme's Line Manager. Her responsibilities include meeting with Graeme on a monthly basis to monitor and evaluate his progress. It is also Lesley's responsibility to support Graeme in his role in any way she reasonably can, such as fielding questions or making decisions.

Claire Richardson (Company Secretary)

In her role as Company Secretary, Claire is responsible for filing forms to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and Companies House. It is her duty to make sure the charity is complying with internal regulations and legislation.