A major funding boost will help ensure there are youth groups in every community in Scotland
Youth Scotland’s bid to ensure every child has the opportunity to attend a youth group in their community has won a £120,000 boost.
The funding from The Robertson Trust will help Youth Scotland extend its support for youth work in rural communities.
The trust is also supporting the creation and development of rural youth groups with the creation of the Youth Scotland Rural Action Fund.
This micro grant scheme will see one-off awards of between £100 to £500 offered for small, volunteer-led youth projects and clubs to enhance existing provision for young people or increase capacity to deliver a specific project or programme.
Lesley Macdonald, head of giving at The Robertson Trust, said: “We are aware of the growth in the number of young people accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service services and of the potential pressures those living in rural communities can face through increased isolation.
“As such, rural youth work is vitally important and voluntary organisations at a local level need practical support to increase capacity, recruit more volunteers and improve the quality of services.
“Youth Scotland is well placed to offer this and we look forward to seeing how this work progresses in the coming months.”
Youth Scotland delivers a range of projects and services which support a network of over 1,100 youth groups. These groups work with over 64,000 young people up to 25 years of age. Young people are supported by more than 7,500 youth workers, of whom nearly 5,000 are volunteers.
Ian McLaughlan, chief executive of Youth Scotland, said: “We’re delighted that these opportunities will be open to all young people, regardless of their background or any social barriers. We believe this universal approach and openness allows young people to enjoy the benefits of youth work.”
“By making a positive longer-term impact on their lives, building their resilience and enabling them to better deal with modern issues and challenges in their lives as they grow into adulthood, we foster prevention in action across our communities in Scotland.”
