WIREDGOV

A new social enterprise giving Fife youngsters valuable work experience is one of ten projects today (13 Jan) sharing £488,838 from the latest Young Start awards.

Run by the Big Lottery Fund Scotland, the programme awards money from dormant bank and building society accounts to support a range of projects that help young people aged eight to 24 reach their full potential.

Scottish Christian Alliance Ltd receive £44,100 for their ‘Sew Funky Project’ which will develop a new social enterprise in Glenrothes.  The initiative will benefit up to 100 young people between the ages of 16 and 25 who are experiencing a range of personal challenges. The young people will learn new work experience skills by creating and selling products from garden furniture to wedding merchandise.

Social Enterprise Co-Ordinator, Aileen Gallagher said: “The young people are delighted about the latest news. This means that young people of the Fife area can now be provided with the opportunities to embark on positive destinations.”   
Amy Sarrell (17) who will benefit from the project said: “This is amazing as I really enjoy taking part in the Sew Funky Project and now I have the opportunity to learn new business skills”.

Young people aged 14 to 24 with personal experience of familial imprisonment are to benefit from a grant of £50,000 to Families Outside. Ten young people from all over Scotland will create a suite of multimedia resources that will support and inform other young people experiencing similar situations.

Child & Family Support Manager, Sarah Roberts said: “Families Outside is delighted to receive news of funding to develop ‘In Sync’, a new initiative with young people who are affected by imprisonment. Using creative methods, young people will design support for, and make connections with, others who find themselves in similar situations throughout Scotland. Working in partnership with Vox Liminis will ensure an imaginative and artistic process that will enable young people themselves to shape and lead change within an area that is too often overlooked.”

Stranraer YMCA will extend their play ranger programme for four young people affected by poverty or substance and alcohol misuse thanks to a grant of £46,800.  The young people will gain on the job training opportunities and level 2 qualifications in play work.

Project Manager, Glenda Dewar, said: “We are delighted to receive the Young Start funding from the Big Lottery Fund.  The funding will help us continue the great work we do in the local area, it will create four posts for young people which is very much needed in our area as we have a high level of youth unemployment.  The impact that this fund is going to have not only on four young people but the 100's of children/youths that we work with will be fantastic.”

Chair of Big Lottery Fund Scotland, Maureen McGinn, said: “As we move into another year, Young Start continues to give young people opportunities to develop their potential through a range of different projects.  These awards include a new social enterprise which will support young people to be creative and gain valuable work experience; and a play ranger programme offering vulnerable young people new training and qualification opportunities. All of the latest awards share a common aim - giving young people the chance to develop skills for a better future.”

Other projects receiving funding from Young Start today are:-

New Rhythms for Glasgow
Glasgow City 
Award: £49,750
This group will create a programme of weekly arts activities for young people aged 12 to 25 years in five areas across North Glasgow (Sighthill, Maryhill, Springburn, Cadder and Barmulloch). Each group will showcase their new skills by staging three community events per year which local people and families can attend.

Castlemilk Youth Complex Limited
Glasgow City 
Award: £49,742
This group will continue to provide support for children and young people aged eight to 16 years identified as “at risk” of social exclusion and mental health difficulties for a further two years. The project will be based in SE Glasgow and will benefit 20 young people each year.

Armadale Community Education Centre Association
West Lothian
Award: £49,750
This group will use this two year grant to develop and deliver a film project. Based in West Lothian, the project will work with over 70 young people who will create their own films and organise a youth film festival in both years. The initiative will increase their confidence and skills, and provide the local community with unique cultural events.

Play Alloa
Clackmannanshire
Award: £49,590
This group will use its two year grant to expand a current youth service, developing a range of individualised activities for up to 32 young people aged 12 to 24 with complex additional support needs, such as Asperger's Syndrome, global learning delays, physical disabilities and communication disorders.

Wild things Environmental Education in Action
Moray 
Award: £49,331
This group based in Findhorn will expand its ‘Wild Volunteer’ project for a further two years whilst supporting an additional 60 young people to engage in healthy outdoor activities and develop new skills including volunteering and leadership.

Disabled and Carers Information Centre Association
Dundee City
Award: £49,775
This group will use this two year grant to continue providing short break opportunities for 150 young carers in Dundee aged eight to 16.

Children 1st
City of Edinburgh 
Award: £50,000
This group will use its one year grant to fund their BFRIENDS service based in Gilmerton, South Edinburgh. This befriending service offers children and young people from 'hard to reach' families, who are in need or at risk of harm, with individual friendship, mentoring and support.

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 0141 242 1451
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @BIGScotland #BigLottery 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland

Notes to editors

• Dormant accounts are defined in the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 as those which have seen no customer-initiated activity for at least 15 years.  
• In September 2011 the Scottish Government formally issued instructions to the Big Lottery Fund to distribute dormant accounts funding for the benefit of Scotland’s voluntary and community sector.
• The Reclaim Fund Ltd. (RFL), which was established in March 2011 to receive and invest dormant account balances across the UK, transferred the first tranche of monies from dormant bank and building society accounts to BIG on 2 August 2011. Scotland will receive an 8.4% share of the total funds to be distributed.
• The Distribution of Dormant Account Money (Apportionment) Order 2011 prescribes that Scotland will receive 8.4% of the dormant accounts money to be made available for distribution by the Big Lottery Fund under the 2008 Act. The estimated grants budget for 2014/15 is £4.8m. It should be noted that this figure is a median projection and may go up or down.
• The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 it has awarded close to £6bn.
• In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was awarded to projects. Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £31 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded.