£626,000 grants for youth projects

Young people are being helped to develop their potential thanks to the latest round of grants from the Big Lottery Fund’s Young Start fund.

Scottish groups are sharing grants totalling £626,343 from a new fund which helps those aged from eight to 24 to develop skills through a range of fun, educational and employability projects.

Those to benefit include the Strike a Chord music project in Coaltown of Wemyss, Fife, Tourette Scotland’s What Makes Me Tic education drive and an Impact Arts scheme in Edinburgh which provides young people with the support and skills to progress towards accessing job-seeking services, employment or volunteering.

John Fellows, head of communication at Big Lottery Fund Scotland, said: “These Young Start grants demonstrate the range of fantastic work carried out by Scotland’s voluntary and community sector to support our young people.

“We’re delighted to be able to support projects which will ensure that young people who are most in need can get off to a flying start in life.

“These awards will not only benefit arts, educations and recreational projects, but will also provide valuable support to young people living with Tourette syndrome.”

The Young Start investment was collected from dormant bank and building society accounts that have seen no activity for at least 15 years.