Pilton Youth & Childrens Project (PYCP) is one of three Edinburgh projects to share in £957, 526 of dormant funds and building society cash from the Young Start fund.
The local project based at The Greenhouse in West Pilton has been awarded £50,000 to support a group of 14 – 18 year olds who have been involved in crime or antisocial behaviour. The young people will be engaged through regular recreational activities and offered accredited training as well as one to one support sessions to divert them from crime. They will also receive physical, emotional and mental health support and it’s hoped the initiative will improve participants’ employability prospects.
Two other city projects have receive Young Start funding. Action for Children receives almost £50,000 to support it’s work with migrant and ethnic minority women, while Passion4Fusion will use it’s £45,000 award to ‘expand it’s football, basketball, running and arts programme for ethnic minority young people from deprived areas of Edinburgh and the Lothians.’
Elsewhere in Scotland, an exciting intergenerational dance project that will unite two talented Scottish dance groups is one of 23 across the country today sharing in the £957,526 Young Start fund.
Thanks to a grant of £11,928, Generation Arts Association will unite two dance troups from Livingston – Fizzy, made up of talented young people aged 12 to 17 and Vintage, a newly formed company of dancers aged 60 to 77, to become ‘A Fizzy Vintage’. Together they will create and perform a dance piece at the Luminate Arts festival in Livingston’s Howden Park Centre this October, proving that there are no age barriers to creativity.
Welcoming their award, Joanne Brown, Co-ordinator at Generation Arts Association, said: “We are absolutelry thrilled wth this award. Intergenerational work has been a passion of ours for a long time but resources don’t often allow for a project of this scope. Importantly for us behind the scenes, this award will also galvanise Vintage and help to raise their profile. Vintage are on the hunt for more members as they’re still newly formed, so its a great time for any older dancers out there to come along and get back to dancing.”
Caragh, 15, a member of Fizzy, said: “The Vintage ladies are amazing. I love the fact that they still dance on stage and I can’t wait to dance more with them.”
Helen, 70, is also excited about the two groups performing together: “Working with the young people from Fizzy is an absolute pleasure – their youthful energy gives me a huge boost.”
Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, said: “This funding will allow thousands of young Scots to pursue their hopes and aspirations while also building skills and confidence for the future. I am delighted that Generation Arts Association will benefit as part of this investment, allowing young people to explore their passion for dance and performance, while making new connections with older people in their communities.”
Young Start paused to new applications in early November 2017. For more information, call 0330 123 7110 or visit https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/youngstartfund.
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