About
YCSA is a Scottish Charity first registered in 1997, based in Glasgows Southside. Our work challenges racism, discrimination and aims to influence policy and practice in relation to youth.
Through a range of services YCSA assists Black and Minority Ethnic young people, aged 7 - 25 embrace their potential to become active and valued members of our diverse society, developing the skills and leadership abilities to succeed in life. We also provide support to parents of young people.
We are located at Govanhill Workspace, 69 Dixon Road, Govanhill, G42 8AT, and our contact number is 0141 390 4799. You can also email us at enquiries@ycsa.org.uk and follow our Twitter and Instagram for updates and happenings.
Mission / Vision / Values / Strategy
YCSA works to overcome the barriers that hold Black and Minority Ethnic young people back and provides a range of social, educational and therapeutic services to support and empower young people.
Vision
YCSA is an organisation that challenges discrimination and works to influence policy and practice change in relation to youth. YCSA helps young people embrace their potential to become active and values members of our diverse society, developing the skills and leadership to abilities to succeed in life.
Values
Respect
Dignity
Equality
Anti-discriminatory practice
Diversity
Openness
Inclusivity
Strategy Report 2019-2022
Publication
Board
Fatawu Yahaya – Chair
I have been involved in charity and community based activities in the UK for the past decade; served as the chairman for the Ghana Welfare Association of West Scotland for over 4 years
I joined the YSCA board in 2020 as a treasurer and currently serving my second term in office as the chairman.
My professional journey started as a class room teacher of STEM subjects for 8years. I veered into Fashion and Textile design and also trained at the prestigious United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) centre of excellence in Accra, Ghana. I held a couple of managerial positions as production and later a marketing manager for Lizdon Fashion and Textile Industry post qualification for five years.
I am a post-graduate Diploma in Business Admin holder from the Roehampton University, London.
I have experience in branding, marketing and customer service delivery both in Ghana and the UK.
Yahiya Shaikh
My name is Yahiya Shaikh and I am a retired teacher, having worked for Glasgow City Council for nearly 40 years. Before becoming a teacher I studied at Strathclyde University getting an honours degree in Pure and Applied Chemistry in 1982.
I have worked in a number of schools as a Chemistry and Principle Chemistry teacher, before my retirement I was the Faculty Head of Science at Shawlands Academy for 13 years.
I was previously on the YCSA board in 2010, I left after several years. I have since rejoined the board in August 2022.
Shehla S. Ihsan
Dr Shehla Ihsan is a qualified and practicing prescribing pharmacist and is a current member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society She is also the CO and Founder of a global healthcare software company and has over 15 years of progressive experience in the healthcare industry and was recently involved in the architectural development of intelligent remote digital disease diagnostic tools needed to facilitate diagnosis, prognosis and treatment swiftly. In addition to this Shehla has independently developed and set up private health services in different clinical areas both for local and international patients.
Shehla has also been the Chair and Founder of a BME community health charity (SCIO) that provided culturally competent services for diverse communities in partnership with local health boards.She was also the Chair of a BME strategic national infrastructure organisation and has previously Chaired the Culturally Competent Planning Group of the GGCNHS Glasgow Diabetes Project. Shehla has served on the Boards of a number of other charities as well as having undertaken extensive community development work within the BME community for around 20 years. A long term resident of Pollokshields and supporter of YCSA, Shehla joined the YCSA Board in February 2017 to bring her knowledge and experience of voluntary sector management to YCSA. Having served as an interim Treasurer for a period from December 2017, Shehla became Secretary of the Board in March 2018 and retains that position on the Board in 2023.
Youth Panel
As a young person if you have any comments for our youth panel on the services please complete the form below:
Staff
Anwari Din
A qualified Social Worker, Anwari also has postgraduate qualifications to Diploma & Masters level in a range of Social Work Subjects and complementary therapies & counselling.
During her career, within Social Work, Anwari worked with different client groups as a social worker, Senior Social Worker and finally as the Co-Ordinator for Learning Disability within the Govan Area.
Anwari served as Race Equality Advisor to Strathclyde Regional Council, Training Officer for it's Ethnic Minority Project & for 10 years until 2012 as CEO for the Youth Community Support Agency.
Followed by working as a Researcher for the late Hanzal Malik when he was an MSP. Anwari then returned to her roots as a supervising social worker with Barnardo's for a number of years before taking up the role as a Foster Carer within Barnardo's for 5 years.
Anwari has served on the Board of 4 Scottish charities, serving as Chair of 2 of these & has extensive experience of voluntary community work particularly with BME communities. She has been the Chair of FCA ( Foster Care Associates) for 4 years before retiring from that post.
Anwari joined YCSA Board in Feb, 2017 to contribute her wide-ranging experience & commitment in the role of YCSA Board member, becoming Chair in Dec, 2017. Then resigned in August 2022 to take up the post of Executive Lead at YCSA.
Joe (Dip Youth & Community Work) – Programme Lead
Joe graduated in 1990, following years of community involvement addressing homelessness & addiction in his home town, setting up accommodation & counselling projects. Has worked across communities supporting young people with complex experiences of addiction & trauma related issues. Has supported various communities, youth organisations & national agencies (Princes Trust/Columba 1400) developing practice & engagements of hard to reach young people emphasising inclusion & employability. Has delivered training across a spectrum of youth & community development issues and he is currently working towards qualifications in applied psychology & counselling.
Natalie – Programme Lead (Safe to Grow)
Natalie completed her MA in Social Anthropology, then taught English in South East Asia, as well as completing some voluntary placements abroad doing community work and promoting equality across a range of issues. She then returned to the U.K. and completed her MEd in Community Development and Youth Work. Since doing so, she has worked in the community development and youth work sector, helping others with mental health, employability, and education. She is passionate about empowering others through creative projects, mind/ body work, and deepening connection with ones self and others. She loves being out in nature, practicing yoga & meditation, as well as writing and other creative endeavours.
Paolo – Art Therapist (Healthy Young Minds Project)
Paolo comes from Italy, he used to live in London and he recently found a new home in Glasgow. Paolo is fine with the pronoun “he”, but he is also very happy with “they”. He spent his childhood drawing, and he thinks he is pretty good at it still today. Paolo loves reading, writing and learning from both books and people. Before training as an art therapist, he used to teach and to organise community activities in his neighbourhood. Paolo has worked as an art therapist in community centres, hospitals, schools, people’s homes, and with adults and children of many different backgrounds. As an art therapist he encourages people to use their creativity to explore the relationship with themselves and others. Paolo has also a passion for trees, vegetables and food, and he loves walking around Pollokshields to look at the neighbours’ plants and flowers.
Misa – Art Psychotherapist (Safe to Grow)
Misa is an art psychotherapist from Tokyo, Japan who speaks English, Japanese and some Spanish. She has experience working as a trainee art psychotherapist both educationally and with the NHS. She has worked as an educational facilitator to provide creative workshops at schools, hospitals, Women’s Aids, galleries & community centres and enjoyed meeting people of all walks of life through the process of making paper folding objects. She is passionate about promoting equality & diversity as an activist & member of groups within schools & community. She holds MSc Art Psychotherapy from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh & MEd from Newcastle University where she studied as a Rotary ambassadorial scholar. In Japan, she worked as a teacher and enjoys working with young people to help them unlock their potential. She enjoys spending time with family, playing sports, reading, growing organic veges and of course creating art!