The Young Women’s Movement, Scotland’s national organisation for young women’s leadership and rights, is launching its 100^th anniversary celebrations this week. The charity, previously known as YWCA Scotland, was founded in 1924 and supports young women and girls across Scotland to develop their leadership skills and lead meaningful societal change.  

To launch a year of celebrations, the organisation has unveiled a new website, designed by MoreYum Studios, and with-it Scotland’s first research and policy hub for young women & girls. The organisation will be hosting an evening reception at Edinburgh City Chambers this week, bringing together young women and guests to celebrate the milestone and a new tartan has been commissioned from The House of Edgar, designed by young woman tartan designer Emma Wilkinson, to mark the occasion.  

Recent achievements from the organisations century-long history includes the most recent Status of Young Women in Scotland report being used to inform the next Women’s Health Plan; publishing a report on feminist town planning which was pivotal to Glasgow becoming the first UK city to embed a feminist lens into city planning; and campaigning for Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act which supported in Scotland becoming the first country to offer universal free period products. 

Jenni Snell, CEO of The Young Women’s Movement, said: ‘Over the past century, the landscape for women’s rights has changed almost unrecognisably, thanks in a large part to the work of organisations like The Young Women’s Movement and our peers. Despite this, gender inequality is still a huge barrier for young women and girls and is holding them back from fully realising their rights to healthcare, education, work and more. In many ways, this situation has worsened in recent years. As we step into the next century of our organisation’s work, we are fully committed to creating a better future for Scotland’s young women and girls.’  

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Notes to editors 

Please direct all media requests to Abi Baross, Communications and Influencing Lead at The Young Women’s Movement, at abi@youngwomenscot.org or on 07733 025610. 
Please note, The Young Women’s Movement operates on a Monday–Thursday 4-day week. 

The Young Women’s Movement
The Young Women’s Movement is Scotland’s national organisation for young women and girls’ leadership and rights. We are local in action and national in impact.
Young women are at the heart of everything we do. They inform, shape and lead our organisation and the work we do. We work alongside young women to amplify their voices and take action.  Our vision is a fairer Scotland for all self-identifying young women and girls. 
For 100 years, we have been a collective force changing things for the better for young women in Scotland. 
Find us online at youngwomenscot.org, or find us on @youngwomenscot on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.