YOUNG people across West Dunbartonshire are being encouraged to get creative and take part in a nationwide competition.
Schools and youth groups in the region are being urged to enter the ‘My Land, My Story’ competition being run as part of the Scottish Land Commission’s (SLC) ‘MyLand.Scot’ initiative.
It is hoped entries will showcase the past, present, and future land around Scotland as well as highlighting how land local to entrants is owned, used, and managed and how it impacts their everyday lives.
The competition is being held in connection with Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 with youngsters across the country being tasked to find places close to them that are of importance to themselves and their community and using them as inspiration for their submissions.
The SLC will select two winning groups which will each be awarded £500 to help with the production of the films outlined in their entries.
The finished films will be shown in Edinburgh in late autumn.
Hamish Trench, chief executive of the SLC, said: “This is an exciting chance for young people across Scotland to engage in the conversation around land use, ownership and management and how it has shaped their communities – and to use their creativity bringing it to life through a short film.
“Land is at the heart of Scotland’s identity. This competition provides a platform for the younger generation to share their connection to and passion for the land around us, the diverse ways in which it is owned, managed and used and how this affects them and their communities over time.”
High schools across the country will directly receive information on how to submit an application.
Youth organisations for people aged between 11 and 19 can find full details as well as the application form HERE.
The competition will be featured as part of Visit Scotland’s Year of Stories which celebrates Scotland’s rich history of storytelling and will serve as the theme of the organisation's 2022 programme.
Hamish added: “I would like to encourage any young people with a love for the land around them to get creative and tell their story.
“We want to showcase new perspectives and stimulate fresh thinking on how land is owned and used across Scotland.
“We hope by getting young people involved in sharing their stories of the land around them, it will raise awareness within the younger generation of the importance of how land is used.
“It plays a critical though often overlooked role in everyday life in Scotland and we’re looking forward to seeing incredible, creative examples of this in the upcoming competition.”
There are a number of examples available at MyLand.Scot.
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