Children’s Lottery funding for Rock Trust

Youth homelessness charity The Rock Trust, based in West Lothian and Edinburgh, has been awarded £20,865 from the Scottish Children’s Lottery to support vulnerable young people in West Lothian.
With a vision to end youth homelessness in Scotland, The Rock Trust works with over 400 young people each year who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The charity offers more than 50 bed spaces each night, providing safe accommodation to young people.

The funding from the Scottish Children’s Lottery will enable the charity to support 20 socially excluded, vulnerable young people in West Lothian to develop the social, emotional and practical skills necessary to embark on the transition to independent adult living.

Each young person will be matched with a peer mentor for support as they work towards their goals through weekly activities for up to a year.

Alistair MacDermid, Operational Manager at the Rock Trust, said: “The funding provided by the Scottish Children’s Lottery will have a significant impact, not only on the 20 young people who will benefit from being mentored, but for the 20 plus volunteers whose kindness will have such a positive bearing on the lives of those involved in the project.”

The Scottish Children’s Lottery was launched in October 2016 to raise money for children in Scotland, with proceeds helping to improve the lives of children right across the country and make a real difference to those who need it most.

Trustee Alan Eccles represents Chance to Succeed, which operates as a society lottery under the Scottish Children’s Lottery. Chance to Succeed supports projects that focus on employability and employment skills, helping to deliver a productive future for our young people.

Alan Eccles said: “By supporting The Rock Trust we hope to help deliver a productive future for our young people. Thank you to those who play the Scottish Children’s Lottery; you are helping to support the great work that our charities undertake.”

Charities that support children in Scotland can apply online for Scottish Children’s Lottery funding.

Picture shows (L-R): Rock Trust’s Olivia Bird, Sean Donnelly, Gary McMillan, CEO Kate Polson, Liam McCallum, Madeline Cross and Allison Calder.