An apprenticeship programme designed to empower young people who have a disability to have a voice in shaping sporting activity in Scotland receives £49,985 of Young Start funding being awarded today. Disability Sport (SDS) is one of five groups sharing in £206,196 of funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Young Start programme, thanks to dormant bank and buildings account money.
The organisation will work with young people who have physical, learning and sensory disabilities to develop their confidence and vital skills and experience in leadership, communication, influencing and facilitation. Youngsters on the programme will be matched with a mentor who will help them to gain experience in coaching, officiating or leardership to put into practice what they have learned.
Gavin MacLeod, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Disability Sport said, “SDS is delighted to be able to support young people with a disability through the Inclusive Apprenticeship programme. Young people with a disability are often isolated in their communities and find that sport allows them to develop their social, physical and emotional confidence. With this Young Start funding the programme will allow the young people to embrace self-development and develop resilience.”
National swimmer Hope Gordon, 22, said, “The Young Start funding will help us grow as a group, develop new ideas and influence sporting policy and practice and provide a voice for young disabled people in sport. Over the next two years the programme will build our confidence and competence to enable us to take on an influencing role which will help deliver key messages and shape the future for participants and performers in Scotland.”
Gemma Lumsdaine, 20, wheelchair basketball coach and player, said, “We are passionate about wanting to give everyone an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of sport that we have been lucky enough to experience. This funding will help us work together as a group to build our skills, knowledge and expertise and, by developing ourselves, we hope to develop opportunities for others. Being part of this programme means we will be able to access mentoring to strengthen our life skills for future opportunities in a variety of settings.”
Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, said: “Young Start helps ensure that Scotland’s next generation has the best possible start in life. All of today’s five successful projects share that ambition, so I am delighted to announce this latest investment totalling £206,196.
“Scottish Disability Sport will support young people from across the country so they can contribute to a wide range of sporting activity and shape the way it is delivered for young people now and in the future.
“Over the last five years Young Start has funded a wide range of fantastic projects helping thousands of young Scots to realise their potential. We are now taking time to review and reshape the programme ready for the future in consultation with the Scottish Government and will be re-opening in Spring next year.”
Young Start will be pausing to new applications in early November 2017. For r more information call 0330 123 7110 or visit www.biglotteryfund/youngstart.
Other groups receiving funding today are:
D&G Youth Project Team, Dumfries and Galloway – £49,800
The project will challenge young people to try new things, learn new skills and meet new people. and is running as part of the Scottish Government’s ‘Year of Young People’ 2018 . The group will create an app to be downloaded and the project will challenge 500 young people aged 8-22 from across Dumfries and Galloway to complete 18,28,38 or 48 activities throughout the year.
Dean and Cauvin Trust, Edinburgh – £46,911
The organisation will continue their work with young parents and young parents to be who have experience of being in care, focusing on positive parenting, providing one to one and group sessions for expectant parents as well as support for young people who already have children.
LEAP Sports Scotland, Scotland wide – £50,000
The group will be able to continue their personal development programme for LGBTI young people through a series of workshops of sporting activities to help them challenge themselves in terms of personal confidence, building self-worth, esteem and resilience.
Caithness Voluntary Group, Highland – £29,700
The group will be able to continue their project which provides a befriending service for weekly visits by local young people to two hospitals and four care homes. Young people attending the current Befriending Groups would take part in activities such as playing games, teaching the use of IPads and a knitting circle. 40 young people and 80 older people are expected to benefit.
For more information about Young Start visit the website at:-
https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/programmes/scotland/young-start
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