Projects supporting children and young people in Edinburgh will benefit from over £800k (£809,595) thanks to Young Start funding announced today (Wednesday 27th May) by The National Lottery Community Fund.
13 organisations aimed at children and young people in the city, including, Capella Charity, Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre, LinkLiving Limited, Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, and Theatre of the Oppressed Scotland will receive the funding boost thanks to the programme.
Young Start is funded by the Dormant Assets Scheme, delivered by the National Lottery Community fund, with priorities set by the Scottish Government. The funding programme aims to enrich the lives of children and young people through projects that matter to them.
One group benefiting from today’s announcement, is the Capella Charity who received a grant of £85,456 to support their Teens+ Next Steps project over the next three years.
The Teens+ Next Steps project provides valuable experience to young people with complex learning disabilities from Edinburgh, East Lothian, and Midlothian like Carina, 24 from Dunbar.
The project helped Carina to develop new entrepreneurial skills, work toward Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and supported her to find employment.
When asked what she enjoys most about Teens+ Next Steps, she said: “I like cooking, being active, hanging out with friends, and being able to complete my Duke of Edinburgh, because I feel like it’s a real achievement that I had never dreamed of doing.”
Over the three-year funding period, the Capella Charity will support 20 young people per year, aged 17 to 24.
When asked what impact the funding has had on the charity, Hub Manager, Robbie Stabler said: “The Young Start Funding has allowed us to create an environment that nurtures the independence and growth of the young people accessing the hub whilst also ensuring that we can offer support where needed.
“Whether it is learning independent skills such as cooking, health and wellbeing and or money skills, or moving towards volunteering employment, each trainee is in control of setting goals that feel meaningful to them, and the Young Start Funding has allowed us to support them to take steps toward achieving them.”
Announcing the funding, Kate Still, Scotland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “I’m happy to announce the latest round of Young Start funding that will benefit around 70 organisations across Scotland to continue to deliver activities for young people that will help them to develop and thrive in their communities.
“By supporting children and young people through a range of creative and practical projects our Young Start grant holders can help them to shape their present and their future for the better.”
LinkLiving Limited, in Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart received £56,666 to fund their The Right Track project.
The funding will support the delivery of a two-year intensive, early intervention pilot programme for around 60 young people, aged 11 to 13, who are at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.
The Right Track project will focus support on young people presenting violent and aggressive behaviour. They will be supported in small groups to develop effective anger management skills, learn how to use coping strategies to manage everyday challenges and to better understand the impact of their behaviour as part of the programme over the next 2 years.
Young Start provides funding of up to £150,000 for projects lasting up to three years through its Main Grants programme, and up to £20,000 through its Small Grants programme.
Find out more about Main Grants at:
https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/funding-programmes/young-start-main-grants
Find out more about Small Grants at:
https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/funding-programmes/young-start-small-grants
Groups can apply by emailing advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or calling 0300 123 7110.
