The Pavillion is based in Easterhouse and provides easily accessible activities for local youngsters. For many it provides a place to get away from the challenges facing the area, including the territorial issues that are part of day to day life. Action for Children Scotland supports and speaks out for Scotland’s most vulnerable young people. They organised a community challenge at the centre, working with FARE (Family Action in Rogerstone and Easterhouse), which is another venture in our portfolio, and The Pavillion to get a group of young people involved.

Willie McCann of Action for Children Scotland said: "Twelve local youngsters worked extremely hard to revamp The Pavillion. I can honestly say they were the best group of young people I have worked with. They were really up for it, and had an extremely mature attitude. The place felt really clean and useable by the time they had finished, and they did a superb job. Some of the work they did meant learning new skills, such as upholstery, which folk from a local business came to teach them. We also ran sessions with them on drug issues and managing money. As well as FARE, we worked with Right Track which runs a get ready for work programme to increase employability. Some of the young people have since gone on to the Youthbuild programme as well."

As a result of the challenge The Pavillion has had two young youth workers aged 16 and 17 on placement from Right Track. "Kayleigh and Shona have brought lots of energy and determination," said Lisa Hird, the centre manager. "They come to the Management Committee meetings, and at one of these they said they wanted to re-open the cafe in The Pavillion. This closed last year because the centre itself had become extremely run down and was on the verge of closing. We really wanted to support them to do this, so started to put in place training for them so they would be able to do the best job possible.

"Then we came across a competition run by Firstport, a charity that provides free business support and awards to social entrepreneurs throughout Scotland. Kayleigh and Shona applied, and were shortlisted and invited to Edinburgh to pitch their idea to a dragon’s den style panel. Both the other folk who were shortlisted were in their twenties and attending university, so it was pretty daunting for them, but they did a really fantastic job. In fact, they were so good they won both prizes so came away with an iphone and £500 to help them start their social enterprise business."

Willie couldn’t be more pleased with the success. "We’re delighted that Kayleigh and Shona are now well on the way to reopening the community cafe. This will be great for the local community as there are few other facilities here for the community, and these two young women are setting a fantastic example for others.

"As an organisation it has also been hugely worthwhile working with FARE, Right Track and The Pavillion and we are looking forward to continuing this approach in the future and also exploring other ways of collaborating. While we take the lead in these community events, we are always looking at the through care side of it, and that’s where working with other groups means we can really add extra value.

"On a more local level, it is great to see the difference local young people have made in their own community. Everyone has heard about Easterhouse, and think they know what it is like. I really believe if they could see just what these hard working, community minded young people have achieved they would get a very different picture of the area."