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3. Better Information for Young People
Young people need access to high quality information about the wide range of opportunities that are available to them. Sometimes they also need help to access and interpret that information.
In Scotland, we have one of the most comprehensive national web portals for young people in Europe. The Young Scot website at www.youngscot.org (supported by the Scottish Executive and other partners) gives young people across Scotland access to information on everything from money and health to education, careers, arts and sport. Local portals offer young people information on opportunities where they live and they can also access a network of local information points. And local Dialogue Youth units engage directly with young people in their own areas.
Young Scot also produce information books to be distributed through schools to all young people. They work closely with local authorities to issue Young Scot cards to every young person. These cards offer discounts to young people across Scotland and across Europe. Many local authorities use them to offer discounts on local services so that more young people can use them.
Not all young people have access to the web and we need to make sure that information is available and accessible to them. It is also important that they have support to access and interpret information if they need it.
Q11: What can be done to improve the information available to young people and their ability to access it?
Q12: How can young people be more involved in developing information for other young people?
Case study: Healthy Phacts and Fiz, Airdrie 
A youth work setting can make it easy for young people to learn about health issues and take responsibility for their own health. Being comfortable about getting health services now should help them make their health a top priority throughout their lives.
The FIZ (Friendly Information Zone) based at the @home youth centre in Airdrie town centre is a good example of
a health project designed to meet the needs of young people. It involves a weekly drop-in service every Tuesday evening, staffed by a doctor, health advisers and other young people. It guarantees confidential advice on sexual health, contraception and any other health issues raised by young people.
Young people were involved in interviewing candidates for the doctor's post, asking questions about working with young people. They have also been involved in designing and decorating the facility. They have given their views on the development and delivery of services aimed at them.
The service has proved popular and accessible with over 2100 young people between 12 and 25 (a third of them male) using it in the first six years.
One 15 year old girl who used the service commented:
"This service is great because it's confidential and easy for young people to access."
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