Young people from Deaf Action in Edinburgh and The Junction based in Leith gathered at the Scottish Parliament recently to launch the ‘My Travels’ postcard campaign, run by YouthLink Scotland.
MSPs were asked to walk 500 miles in 5 minutes through an interactive postcard map of Scotland, as youngsters explained what CashBack money has done for them.
One young person who is involved with Deaf Action told MSPs what they have loved about their project: “The best bit about the youth service is that I realised how many people are just like me and this made me build up my confidence so much. I go to a hearing school and I am the only deaf person in my year, so yes I sometimes feel like the odd one out but when I go to Deaf Action I am the happiest person on Earth!”
The campaign is being organised by YouthLink Scotland, the national agency for youth work, to demonstrate the life changing impact of the CashBack for Communities Youth Work Fund.
Justice Secretary, Michael Matheson MSP commented: “Through CashBack we are supporting Scotland’s most disadvantaged young people to reach their full potential in life, helping them to learn new skills, boost their confidence and become responsible people.
“I was delighted to attend YouthLink Scotland’s postcard campaign and meet some of the young people from Deaf Action and The Junction who have benefited from the unique approach of CashBack. Through the CashBack programme we have committed £92 million to support nearly two million opportunities and it is great to hear about the impact that money is having on young people’s lives.”
Chief Executive of YouthLink Scotland, Jim Sweeney said: “Behind each of these postcards is a wealth of positive stories and the proof is there in black, white and colour, this money is nothing short of a lifeline for some of our hardest to reach young people.
“Over the last few years, money from CashBack has helped young people access life-changing youth work opportunities which has given them more optimism for the future and has proved to many young people they can achieve their ambitions despite difficult life circumstances.”
Since 2008/09 the CashBack Youth Work Fund alone, has invested almost £10m to hundreds of organisations who work with young people and we know that in that time this money has helped over 300,000 youngsters in one way or another. The CashBack programme supports a number of funds through partnership with Scottish sporting, arts, youth work organisations and business.
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