Thousands of young Scots will be helped into jobs following the allocation of £3 million Scottish Government funding for the third sector.
Twenty-four projects across Scotland will receive investment from the Third Sector and Social Enterprise Challenge Fund with projections showing that 2,019 young people will be given the chance to improve their employability.
Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance announced the funding in Edinburgh while visiting one of the successful recipients, Street League, who use football and structured education to build confidence, develop skills and help young people into jobs.
She said:
“We have put record levels of investment into opening up opportunities for our young people to improve their chances of finding employment.
“The Third Sector Challenge and Social Enterprise Fund forms part of our unique guarantee to 16 to 19 year olds that all will be offered a place in training or education. I am very pleased to be able to fund such a broad range of projects, all of which have a single goal – helping Scotland’s young people into a job.
“Street League is just one example of how to engage young people by wrapping up real skills training with something that many enjoy and I hope to see all 24 projects making a difference to the lives of Scotland’s young people over the coming months.”
Background
The Third Sector and Social Enterprise Challenge Fund forms parts of the Scottish Government’s £30 million investment in The Youth Employment Strategy and was originally intended to be £2.5 million. Relevant organisations were invited to bid earlier this year.
Projects to receive funding from the Third Sector Challenge Fund are as follows:
- Aberdeen Foyer (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire) – £85,497
- Barnardo’s (Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Highland, Dundee, Perth and Kinross) – £97,466
- Claverhouse (Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross) – £125,775
- DEAP Ltd (Dundee) – £64,670
- Glasgow Regeneration Agency (Glasgow) – £98,108
- Impact Arts (Glasgow, Borders, Edinburgh, North Ayrshire) – £98,108
- Into Work (West Lothian) – £76,000
- Inverclyde Community Development (Inverclyde) – £77,823
- Kibble Education and Care Centre (Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde) – £246,016
- McSence Communications Ltd (East Lothian, Midlothian) – £62,676
- Princes Trust (various regions) – £165,725
- Rathbone Training (various regions) – £249,759
- Recycle a Bike (Falkirk) – £58,420
- Right Track (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Lanarkshire) – £235,670
- Routes to Work (North Lanarkshire) – £113,146
- Routes to Work South (South Lanarkshire) – £71,399
- Springboard (various regions) – £249,825
- Street League (Edinburgh, Glasgow) – £93,324
- The Conservation Volunteers Scotland (Glasgow, South Ayrshire, Highland, Edinburgh, Stirling) – £158,491
- The Lennox Partnership (West Dunbartonshire) – £78,390
- The Shirlie Project (Highland) – £106,952
- The Wise Group (Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire) – £155,231
- Volunteer Action Angus (Angus) – £60,156
- West Fife Enterprise (Fife) – £63,063