£750,000 funding for youth charity

A youth charity with a four in five success rate in getting young people into work has received £750,000 of European Union funding.

About 2,500 young people are expected to benefit from European Structural Fund money awarded to The Prince’s Trust Scotland.

The charity boasts an 80% success rate in achieving “positive outcomes” for 16-25 year olds.

The European funding will be channelled into one of three courses which aim to motivate disengaged and disadvantaged youths, boost community engagement and provide vocational training.

Vocational courses are available in retail, hospitality, the motor trade, leisure, travel and tourism, environment, land management and health.

Charity director Heather Gray said the award will allow The Prince’s Trust to do more with its partners, including those in national and local government, the private sector and other charities.

She said: “Our programmes offer tailored support to help young people move forward into employment, self-employment, education or training – and with 80% positive outcomes, we know it’s an approach that works.

“By empowering young people to fulfil their potential, The Trust has a key role to play in harnessing young people’s talents to improve economic growth in Scotland and this award gives us a vital platform for helping the 7,000 young people we’ve set out to reach this year.”

Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance said: “The Scottish Government is investing an additional £30 million into a wide range of projects through the Youth Employment Strategy and has made a unique guarantee of a place in education or training for all our 16-19-year-olds.

“The work of the third sector is vital part of turning the Scottish Government’s pledge on youth employment into making a difference to the lives our young people. The Prince’s Trust have had numerous successes through their programmes over forty years and I am very pleased to award them £750,000 of further funding to keep up momentum in a very important area.”