Supporting BME, Refugee & Asylum Seeking Children and Young People in Glasgow
Welcome to YCSA Glasgow
Empowering Young People and Families
Since 1997, YCSA has been a trusted charity supporting children, young people, and families from BME, refugee, asylum seeker, and minority communities across Glasgow. We offer free, trauma informed, and culturally sensitive services that promote mental health, wellbeing, and personal development. Our programs include youth clubs, art psychotherapy, ESOL and digital literacy classes, family wellbeing groups, and community events that foster resilience, connection, and confidence.
We address challenges such as poverty, racism, trauma, insecure immigration status, and language or digital exclusion. Our experienced, culturally competent staff build lasting trust, while collaborations with schools, social workers, and local organisations ensure coordinated support in housing, education, and benefits. Guided by the voices of the communities we serve, YCSA empowers young people to thrive, families to heal, and communities to flourish with dignity.
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YCSA supports Black and Minority Ethnic (BME), refugee and asylum seeking children, young people and their families across Glasgow who are affected by trauma, displacement, inequality and social exclusion. We provide culturally responsive mental health support, creative and therapeutic interventions, and practical family centred services that help young people feel safe, understood and able to thrive. Through our flagship Canvas of Hope programme, we deliver specialist arts based psychotherapy in schools and community settings, ensuring support reaches those who need it most.
Canvas of Hope: Healing through Creativity
Flagship Programme
- Our flagship Art Psycotherapy Service helps children, young people and families to explore emotions, recover from trauma, and rebuild confidence.
- Led by qualified, HCPC registered art psychotherapists, Canvas of Hope provides a safe, creative space to support mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Youth Empowerment & Support
Through Youth Clubs, Mentoring, and Creative Projects,
- YCSA helps young people build skills, confidence, a sense of belonging and empowers them to challenge racism and discrimination. We have undertaken
a number of workshops with young people who have requested this service.
- Our programmes include leadership development,the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and wellbeing initiatives designed to assist young people thrive.
Community Engagement & Partnerships
Collaborations, Events, Training
- We work in partnership with families, schools, community organisations and statutory services to tackle poverty, isolation and inequality.
- Through wellbeing support, ESOL provision and advocacy, YCSA strengthens family resilience, improves access to services and builds trusted, connected communities across Glasgow.
Testimonials
The staff genuinely care. They helped me build confidence, understand my options, and feel like I mattered. I wouldn’t be where I am now without their support.
“YCSA understands the realities faced by refugee and minority ethnic families in a way few organisations do. Their support is practical, culturally sensitive, and deeply rooted in trust.”
My child went from feeling isolated and anxious to feeling confident and hopeful. YCSA created a safe space where they could grow and be themselves.
Latest Stories From Our Community
Donate
Fund mental health support for young people, mentoring, & safe spaces in Glasgow.
Volunteer
Join us to support young people. All backgrounds welcome, training provided.