Littlehouse Media

Scran Café – Youth powered café launched by Scran Academy

Scran Academy, a leading social enterprise in Edinburgh, is delighted to announce the launch of the new Scran Café, a professional café within NHS Lothian’s Comely Bank Centre, planned, launched and run by inspiring young people aged between 13 and 21 from across Edinburgh.

The café’s initial focus will be to create a welcoming, relaxing, and safe haven for as many as 100 frontline NHS workers and clinical trainees on a daily basis, offering freshly made meals, drinks, and other refreshments. 

Paul (aged 13) – Scran Young Participant

With an innovative social business model involving a voluntary, private and public sector collaboration, this unique partnership between Scran Academy and NHS Lothian will see more than 100 young people, too often judged and failed by both their city and country, access dedicated employment experience and skills support over the coming three years.

Through the charity’s existing community-based Academy School and Scransitions, a new 16+ employability programme, this ground-breaking social venture will empower these young people with the skills and confidence to lead in the hospitality industry.  At the same time, the programme will take a significant bite out of the poverty-related barriers, life challenges and injustices they face on a daily basis – being care-experienced, disengaged from mainstream school, at risk of homelessness, unemployed or suffering from poor mental health.

Scransitions is supported by The National Lottery Fund’s Young Start Project, the Edinburgh Thrive initiative, and Walter Scott Giving Group, who have all generously enabled the £300,000 project to run for three years.

The Café will open to the public later in the year as restrictions are eased.  There are already strong signs that the café will become an essential resource to the wider community, instrumental in joining up other Scran programmes and initiatives.  Through the charity’s partnerships and intergenerational work, including projects involving low-income family, elderly and homeless organisations, there are hundreds of individuals keen to access the cafe and get involved. The cafe will also provide a free community library, with support from Edinburgh International Book Festival and other bookstores.

Founder of Scran Academy and social entrepreneur, John Loughton BEM, himself a young person who grew up struggling in North Edinburgh, said: “At Scran we do hand-ups, not just hand-outs. We must all respond and adapt to what is an oncoming crisis for today’s generation that has resulted from education systems failures, a bleak employment context, and the rising grip of poverty and mental health. It’s brutal for young people and our work has never been more needed.

“What Scran’s story shows is that if we support local community organisations that are run with passion and authenticity, we can develop creative solutions to social inequality. It also shows that unlike the stereotypes so often in the media, young people make a real and positive contribution to society and your post code does not have to be your destiny. 

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank all our funders, schools and volunteers whose contribution to the operation of Scran has made a huge difference to the young people of Edinburgh.”

John Loughton BEM, Founder of Scran Academy

Ends

Images attached – Please credit Scran Academy:

Paul (aged 13) – Scran Young Participant

Scones at Scran Café

Andrew – Scran Young Participant

Scran Café

Group of Scran Young Participants (13-17)

John Loughton – Please credit Hannah Bailey

Images can be downloaded from Dropbox  – https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6t4d378k4ruv4v9/AACfcxSXo4lqu-omks5NA27ta?dl=0

Notes to Editors

Scran Academy

North Edinburgh-based Scran Academy has been working grassroots for nearly four years, helping young people to overcome poverty related challenges including mental health, hunger, homelessness, family breakdown and school exclusion. They have achieved this through their youth work-based Community School for those excluded or at risk of disengagement from mainstream services. 80% go on to access education, training or employment, 85% gain an SQA qualification Nat 4 or 5, and 100% gain wider formal accreditation.

However, the social enterprise transformed into one of the largest support organisations during the Covid-19 pandemic. In a rapid response, despite their modest size and lack of resource, they recruited over 220 volunteers, six kitchens, a range of partner organisations in order to produce and deliver over 150,000 meals, feeding 3,500 people.

Continuing their grassroots support the charity recently set up Scran Van, a mobile catering van that trains young people to gain leadership skills in a safe environment with positive adult engagement. Since the Scran Van first became operational in late 2020, over 650 people have been fed at 28 different events across the city.  The Scran Van has a further 25 events to help tackle holiday hunger for young people this summer.

Scran Academy School

A bespoke education programme dedicated to young people not flourishing in mainstream school.  Focuses on the confidence, skills, qualifications and relationships needed to thrive in learning, earning and wider life. Ultimate aim is to close the poverty-related attainment gap.

  • Training opportunities for young people from communities that are so often judged, condemned and ignored by mainstream Scottish systems.  We not only challenge the deeply held notion that young people from certain areas are destined to fail but act as an example of how young people can drive their own change
  • Scran Academy has been in operation for almost four years supporting many of Edinburgh’s young people who have been most failed, ignored and let down.

The Statistics

45,000 young people (16-24) are unemployed in Scotland, a huge increase in recent years.

Around 56,000 school aged young people aren’t engaged in any education

New statistics show the number of learners leaving school without a positive destination has increased to a five-year high

The poverty-related attainment gap between the wealthiest and least wealthy kids continues to widen.

Youth unemployment remains higher than overall unemployment with worrying levels of education disengagement and poverty.

You Might Also Like

Lochaber community is pulling together to give Nevis Range a lift after lockdown!

New European partnership to upskill adventure tourism in five countries

120 young people from Edinburgh create multi-artform production during Covid

IRONKIDS activity programmes promote healthy and active lifestyles – SUN, FUN, RUN!

Chris O’Brien, MD of Nevis Range, shortlisted for Business Leader of The Year

An Teallach wins €60,000 European Outdoor Conservation Association grant

Nevis Range and Trek announce a partnership for 2018/19

Dr Liz Cameron, Scotland’s voice of business, to headline women’s networking lunch

Nevis Range looks forward to reopening in July

‘A Meeting of Minds’ – An online event to celebrate Scotland’s aquaculture sector

£100,000 awarded to innovative Scottish mountain project

Hostelling Scotland fully open for business after two years

Becoming a Conscious Host: Carbon Neutrality and Beyond

Lochaber Ideas Week returns to Fort William after a two-year covid hiatus

OATS in search of a Fairy Pool of staff

Lochaber Chamber calls for urgent action to address the critical public transport infrastructure crisis

Young people invited to collaborate in Muckin’ good summer festivals

Loch Ossian and Torridon Youth Hostels shortlisted in TGO Reader Awards

Highland entrepreneurial masterclass series looking to foster growth…

80th Anniversary of the Battle of Kohima, Edinburgh

Hostelling Scotland begins phased opening of Youth Hostel network

Nevis Range to turn back the clock to 1989 to celebrate 30 years of adventure

Keith Legge, CEO of SYHA Hostelling Scotland, steps down after 13 years

Young heroes wanted for aerial dance workshops in the Easter holidays

Discover Scotland’s ‘Braw Buildings’ with Hostelling Scotland

Inspirational volunteer, Steph McKenna, wins Youth Mountain Award

Midlothian ‘zero carbon’ office development seeks Planning in Principle

Immerse yourself in Lochaber Ideas Week 2019

New Beinn a’ Ghlo trailhead car park gives back to the mountains

New look Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel, new era of hostelling in the Capital

Planning on holidaying at home? Give hostelling a go!

Young ‘Fifers’ invited to collaborate in Eliminator Bike Festival

Young event assistants invited to join the IRONKIDS Scotland event team

IRONKIDS Scotland – 3,000 kids to take part in global running series

International partnership benefits Nevis Range snowsports enthusiasts

Nevis Range team up with Endura

Visit Moray Speyside launches their biggest ever UK marketing campaign

Campaign to save Scotland’s mountain paths raises over £218,000 in first year

Victory Over Japan Day 2020 – The Royal Scots commemorate their fallen comrades from the Far-East Conflict

Monster Meets Mountain – Nevis Range joins forces with the Cobbs Group

New hydro scheme powers Scottish mountain resort

Nevis Range is making it snow all season long!

Former Farrier, Matthew Jackson, appointed Chair of DYW West Highland

It’s Up to Us…to step up and save our mountain paths

Elite mountain bike racer, Mikayla Parton, wins Youth Mountain Award

Lochaber Chamber of Commerce invite Scottish Businesses to Join Trade Missions to Orange County and Nova Scotia

Popular Youth Hostel on Loch Lomond side re-opens after major upgrade

Hostelling Scotland’s network opens for 2023. Give hostelling a go!

Edinburgh’s Electric Cycle Company sees 80% rise in Lockdown sales

Edinburgh’s Electric Cycle Company has been supercharged

Millburn Academy ensures a warm welcome to Inverness Youth Hostel

Videos highlight the benefits of apprenticeships in the West Highlands

Lochaber Ideas Week programme revealed

Haggis from Scotland’s first free-range Haggis farm goes on sale in Lochaber

Video series to showcase apprenticeships in the West Highlands launched

Scran Academy reach 100,000 essential meals delivery milestone

Nevis Range moving forward with interim CEO Rod Pashley

National Funding Boost for Cream o’ the Croft and The Eliminator

Lochaber’s Nevis Range becomes an accredited Living Wage employer

Hostelling Scotland, a new brand identity unveiled

Sustainable active travel and food tourism at the heart of new adventure film

Lee Craigie, outdoor ambassador and adventurer, wins top mountain award

An appetite for adventure in the North West Highlands

Finance and Economy Secretary, Kate Forbes, opens car park and off-grid toilets at Skye’s Iconic Fairy Pools

ITV4 to screen every minute of OVO Energy Tour of Britain live

Nevis Range partner with Disability Snowsport UK for Winter 18/19

Lochaber Tourism Summit 2019, a must-attend event for Highland tourism businesses

Call for nominations to join Hostelling Scotland’s Board of Trustees

SYHA appoints Lois Marshall as Youth & Volunteer Engagement Manager

Nevis Range announces Commencal as new global gravity sports partner

Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland wins two rural industry awards

One Lochaber Leadership Programme to be launched at Lochaber Ideas Week

Celebrating 90 years of Scottish hostelling

Nevis Range, Scotland’s highest snowsports destination, open for business

Dunkirk – The Untold Story of The Royal Scots

Outdoor Capital Activities and Attractions Expo open for tourism business

‘A Meeting of Minds 2’ celebrates innovation in Scotland’s aquaculture sector

Inverness Youth Hostel gets a fresh new look

Young volunteers wanted to run IRONKIDS Scotland running events

Nevis Range and Trek renew commercial partnership for 2019/20

Crieff antique dealer unearths rare Rolex ‘MilSub’ dive watch worth £120,000

Scran Academy on ‘foodwill’ tour of Edinburgh

Three female adventurers to take on epic 1936 cycling trip

The new Pentland Trail Centre – The future for Edinburgh biking

Lochaber Chamber of Commerce calls for urgent action by Scottish and UK Governments on major traffic congestion in Fort William

SYHA Hostelling Scotland – building Scottish hostelling for the future

Gold and Silver gongs for Torridon and Loch Ossian Youth Hostels in TGO Reader Awards

Scottish Enduro Series confirms POC as headline sponsor for fifth year

Frazer Coupland appointed Chair of The Highland Tourism Partnership

Hostelling Scotland to temporarily close Youth Hostel network

Edinburgh’s Electric Cycle Company is being supercharged

Nevis Range and Trek renew commercial partnership for 2020/21

Keeping history alive for future generations

POC headline sponsor for Scottish Enduro Series for sixth year

Developing for the future at Nevis Range!

100th Birthday of Scottish World War 2 Defence of Dunkirk Veteran (Royal Scots)