Young volunteers are at the heart of all YES work and regularly take an active lead or supportive role in its activities. YES Events (‘the YES Army’) is a group of young volunteers who organise issue-based music, dance and art events, from breakdancing to mural painting. Now in its 10th year, the group has been involved in a number of high-profile events, from the YES’s 10th anniversary celebrations to Rootz - a Celebration of Cultures.

YES Events volunteers also play an important role at conferences and seminars. For example, in December 2003 young people from Dumfries YES supported and delivered awareness sessions at Skoolz Oot, a conference organised by the Equality Network in association with LGBT Youth Scotland. In February 2005, they demonstrated creative approaches to Involving Young People in Community Planning, at a highly successful seminar at the University of Glasgow’s Crichton Campus, Dumfries, attended by professionals and community members.

Peer Education
Peer education is one of the most powerful ways in which young people can work with, inform and support other young people. YES Events volunteers create and deliver peer education sessions on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, literacy and numeracy, drugs and alcohol awareness (the ‘Poison DAA’ drugs and alcohol awareness project) and mental well-being (‘Kool Headz’ programme). Some of the group are training as befrienders in order to make it easier for others to join the programme.

Consultations
The volunteers have regularly participate in consultations, ranging from national and local Sexual Health and Choose Life strategies, to a domestic abuse leaflet and a piece of research by Durham University on Discovering the Meaning and Value in Youth Work. They have also participated in a variety of needs assessments and external evaluations.