AYF formed in 2008 with the aim of providing youth work services for the Isle of Arran. It now has two employees and ten volunteers.

AYFs objectives are:

-To provide a safe, warm environment in which young people can meet

-To develop educational, physical and social skills and foundations of friendship through a variety of activities and events

-To build the capacity of young people by involving them in management and decision making.

We run at least 15 weekly clubs from a fantastic youth centre (our safe, warm environment), based at the back of Arran High School, that has been entirely decorated and refurbished by young people, for young people. As with everything AYF does, all of these activities are provided free of charge.

Through these clubs we achieve our second objective:

The youth cabins are open on every day for lunchtime drop-in, giving young people a space to socialise and play with friends.

On Mondays, we run a unique cooking project teaching culinary skills. The highlight of this is our annual night at Auchrannie's 1869 restaurant where young people prepare a three-course meal for invited businesses and guests.

We also have our after-school girls football club, following requests from many of our female members.

Our youth workers, Hollie (National Part-Time Youth Worker of the Year 2017) and Graeme (National Full-Time Youth Worker of the Year 2017), mentor three young people on a one-to-one basis, through partnership with Social Services. Much of this is outdoors and based around sport and exercise, increasing fitness, confidence and self-esteem through physical activity. The AYF Staff team won the inaugural Mental Health & Wellbeing Award at Youthlink Scotland's National Youth Work Awards 2018.

On Tuesdays, the group meets at the local elderly shelter to provide intergenerational activities, then heads back to the youth cabin for a band jam in the music room.

Every Wednesday, we have an art psychotherapy group with a trained professional, helping young people with their mental health.

Around a dozen young people enjoy professional guitar tuition from Rock School tutor Steve Agnew. Students have the chance to sit exams and work towards accreditation.

We also have our mixed-abilities running club for youths which has seen a core group progress from absolute beginners to seasoned runners. Young people have the opportunity to take in events like Brodick Castle 5K, Parkrun, Tough Mudder and the Arran half marathon. Sessions are based around fitness, endurance and strength.

Every Thursday at Youth Forum, a committee of young people meet to tackle issues important to local youngsters.

Through LGBT+ club, youngsters have received LGBT-specific sexual health education, anti-bullying activities, support on coming out, transitioning gender, reporting hate crimes, fun social nights, and much more.

On Fridays, we have our biggest group, with numbers anywhere between 40 and 70. Friday drop-in is a varied night that includes sport, games, arts & crafts, movie nights or tackling issues such as smoking, alcohol and drugs.

Meeting our third objective, young people are heavily involved in the planning and delivery of the work of Arran Youth Foundations. It is very much their organisation.

Young people help plan the project via quarterly planning meetings with the youth work project manager. Two twenty year olds who have been a part of AYF for eight years now have recently joined the executive committee. Young members help raise funds for the charity by organising fundraisers.

One senior member of the group has become a young volunteer in the past year and was supported through a Silver Youth Achievement in doing so. Several members of running club achieved their Jog Scotland Junior Leaders qualification, with one becoming co-coach.