Articles / High Life Highland Leadership Programme: Youth Development
Development, Training & CoachingDiscover the High Life Highland Leadership Programme for young people aged 12-25. Learn about volunteering, awards, and leadership development in the Scottish Highlands.
Written by Laura Bouttell • Fri 9th January 2026
The High Life Highland Leadership Programme represents one of Scotland's most successful youth development initiatives, offering young people aged 12-25 across the Highland region opportunities to develop practical leadership skills, gain nationally recognised qualifications, and contribute to their communities through meaningful volunteering. Since its origins in Nairn Academy in 2004, the programme has transformed thousands of young lives whilst simultaneously strengthening communities throughout the Scottish Highlands.
This inclusive and transformative initiative equips young people with practical leadership capabilities, life skills, and confidence that extend far beyond the programme itself. With over 23,000 volunteering hours delivered by young leaders in 2023 alone, and an estimated 7,700 young people registered since electronic records began, the programme demonstrates genuine impact at scale.
High Life Highland is a registered charity created by Highland Council as an "arms length" organisation responsible for developing and promoting opportunities in culture, learning, sport, leisure, health, and well-being across the Highland region. The organisation operates libraries, museums, leisure centres, and numerous community programmes serving Scotland's largest geographic council area.
The Leadership Programme stands apart through several characteristics:
Breadth of Opportunity
Unlike narrowly focused programmes, High Life Highland offers leadership development across diverse domains:
This breadth ensures young people can develop leadership through activities matching their interests and passions.
Recognition Through Achievement
Participants receive coloured hoodies recognising their volunteering contributions—visible symbols of achievement that build pride and create programme identity. The hoodie progression system provides tangible milestones motivating continued engagement.
Geographic Accessibility
Operating across every area of Highland—one of Scotland's most geographically dispersed regions—the programme reaches young people in remote communities who might otherwise lack development opportunities available in urban centres.
Industry Recognition
The programme's nomination in the Innovation category at the Community Leisure UK Awards validates its effectiveness, with judges recognising "the extraordinary impact of public leisure and cultural services" that the programme exemplifies.
The Leadership Programme offers flexible pathways accommodating different interests, schedules, and development goals.
| Age Range | Programme Level | Typical Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 12-14 years | Foundation | Introductory volunteering, basic leadership skills |
| 15-17 years | Development | Expanded responsibilities, qualification pursuit |
| 18-25 years | Senior | Mentoring younger participants, complex projects |
Sports Leadership
Sport represents a major programme focus, with the Scottish FA partnership developing coaching abilities. Young leaders can progress through coaching qualifications whilst gaining practical experience with community sports programmes.
The programme has received endorsement from global football figures including Claude Makelele and Frank De Boer, validating its approach to sports leadership development.
Cultural Volunteering
Libraries, museums, and arts venues provide diverse leadership contexts:
Community Projects
Conservation work, community events, and local initiatives offer leadership experience outside institutional settings:
The Hoodie System
Coloured hoodies recognise accumulating volunteer hours, creating visible achievement markers:
| Hoodie Colour | Hours Required | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | Initial commitment | Programme membership |
| Progression Colours | Increasing hours | Growing contribution |
| Senior Colours | Substantial commitment | Significant impact |
In academic year 2024/25, 798 hoodies and 262 t-shirts were awarded, representing at least 21,260 leadership hours.
National Qualifications
Beyond programme recognition, participants can achieve nationally recognised qualifications:
The programme's scale and longevity enable meaningful impact assessment.
| Metric | Value | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteering Hours | 23,250 | 2023 |
| Registered Participants | 7,700+ | Since 2020 (electronic records) |
| Current Year Registrations | 1,028 | 2024/25 academic year |
| Awards Distributed | 1,060 | 2024/25 academic year |
| Programme Duration | 20+ years | Since 2004 |
Participants develop transferable capabilities valuable throughout life:
Leadership Competencies
Personal Development
Career Preparation
Young leaders' contributions strengthen Highland communities:
Access to the Leadership Programme typically begins through schools, leisure facilities, or direct contact with High Life Highland.
School Connection
Many participants join through school partnerships, with Active Schools coordinators promoting opportunities and facilitating initial registration.
Leisure Facility Access
Young people already using High Life Highland facilities can express interest in leadership opportunities through staff at pools, gyms, and leisure centres.
Direct Registration
The High Life Highland website provides information about registration processes and local contacts for young people seeking involvement.
Initial Engagement
Ongoing Development
Recognition and Advancement
The programme's sustainability depends on partnerships across sectors.
Local businesses including Stagecoach Group Ltd, Highland Learning Academy, MacKenzie & Cormack Tain, and My Primary & Secondary Tutor have become programme sponsors, helping meet costs of providing hoodies to growing participant numbers.
Business involvement demonstrates community recognition of programme value whilst providing sustainable funding beyond public sector resources.
The Scottish FA partnership validates sports leadership development, ensuring coaching pathways meet national standards. Additional partnerships with sports governing bodies expand qualification opportunities across different disciplines.
Schools throughout Highland integrate programme participation with broader educational goals, recognising leadership development as valuable complement to academic study.
Understanding the Highland geography helps appreciate programme significance.
The Highland Council area covers the largest geographic territory of any Scottish council—an area larger than Belgium. Communities spread across this vast region face:
The Leadership Programme specifically addresses these challenges by operating across every Highland area, ensuring young people in remote communities access development opportunities.
In smaller Highland communities, young leaders often provide essential volunteer capacity for local programmes and events. Their contributions directly enable activities that might otherwise prove unsustainable with limited adult volunteer pools.
The programme's breadth—spanning libraries, museums, and cultural events—connects young leaders with Highland heritage and identity. Leadership development occurs within specifically Highland contexts, strengthening both individual capability and community connection.
The programme serves young people aged 12 to 25 years. Different opportunities suit different ages—younger participants typically begin with supervised volunteering before progressing to more independent leadership roles as they mature and develop skills. There's no requirement to start at 12; young people can join at any point within the eligible age range.
No prior experience is required. The programme welcomes beginners and provides training appropriate to different activities. Your enthusiasm and willingness to commit matter more than existing skills. The programme's purpose is development—you're expected to learn and grow rather than arrive fully formed.
There's no minimum requirement to participate, though earning hoodies requires accumulating volunteering hours. The programme accommodates different commitment levels, understanding that young people balance school, work, and family responsibilities. Regular consistent engagement typically produces better development outcomes than sporadic intensive participation.
Available qualifications depend on your activity focus. Sports leadership can lead to coaching certifications through Scottish governing bodies. First aid qualifications are common across activities. Various leadership awards provide nationally recognised credentials. Your programme coordinator can identify qualification pathways matching your interests and goals.
Significantly. Programme participation demonstrates commitment, responsibility, and community engagement that employers and universities value. The skills developed—communication, organisation, teamwork, problem-solving—transfer directly to workplace requirements. Many participants cite programme involvement as distinguishing factors in successful applications.
Yes, many participants engage across different domains. You might coach sports on weekends whilst helping at library events during school holidays. This breadth develops versatile skills and helps identify particular interests for deeper pursuit. Discuss multi-area involvement with your programme coordinator to ensure manageable commitments.
Participants who reach programme age limits often transition to adult volunteering roles or employment within High Life Highland or partner organisations. The relationships, qualifications, and experience gained create pathways into careers in sport, leisure, culture, and community development. Programme alumni remain part of a community that shaped their development.
The High Life Highland Leadership Programme offers young people throughout Scotland's Highlands exceptional opportunities to develop leadership capabilities whilst contributing to their communities. Whether interested in sports, culture, conservation, or community service, the programme provides pathways for growth that generate lasting impact.
For young people aged 12-25 in the Highland region, consider what the programme might offer you. Contact High Life Highland through their website, speak with Active Schools coordinators at your school, or inquire at local leisure facilities. The programme welcomes new participants ready to develop their potential whilst serving others.
For parents and educators, recognise that programme participation develops capabilities complementing academic achievement. The confidence, responsibility, and practical skills young leaders gain prove valuable regardless of eventual career paths. Consider encouraging young people to explore what the programme offers.
For community members and businesses, understand that supporting young leaders strengthens community capacity. The volunteering hours young people contribute enable programmes and services benefiting everyone. Consider how you might support the programme through sponsorship, partnership, or simply encouraging young people to participate.
Twenty years of programme operation demonstrate sustained commitment to developing Highland's young people. The thousands of young leaders who have gained skills, confidence, and qualifications through participation represent a legacy that continues strengthening communities across Scotland's Highlands.