WIREDGOV

Youth projects share cash seized from criminals.

More than £400,000 seized from criminals is being used to fund six youth projects across Scotland, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson announced recently.

The money has been seized through the Proceeds of Crime Act and reinvested as part of the CashBack for Communities programme, a unique Scottish Government initiative which reclaims ill-gotten cash to fund activities and opportunities in local communities.

The six groups that will receive a share of the £412,000 funding are:

• The Boys’ Brigade
• The Girls’ Brigade
• Clubs for Young People Scotland
• Girlguiding Scotland
• Scouts Scotland
• Youth Scotland

Visiting the Boys’ Brigade Scottish headquarters in Larbert, where young people from each of the groups were in attendance, Mr Matheson said recently:

“I am extremely pleased to be able to announce this additional funding for these very deserving youth organisations, run primarily by volunteers.

“The CashBack programme is all about seizing money from criminals and re-investing it back into the community to fund facilities and activities for young people to stop them getting involved in crime and anti-social behaviour.

“As a Government we are committed to tackling inequality and CashBack offers every young person, regardless of their background, the opportunity to get involved in positive activities in their communities.

“Since 2008/09 CashBack has committed over £75 million to projects and organisations who work with young people, delivering more than 1.8 million activities and opportunities throughout the country.

“We want all of Scotland’s young people to be confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens and I believe that today’s event shows that we have already made great progress in making this vision a reality.”

Ian McLaughlan Chief Executive of Youth Scotland added: “We are delighted that the Scottish Government is announcing their support of Youth Scotland and the CashBack Partnership Consortium with an additional nine months of funding.

“Both the Small Grants Scheme and Young People Taking the Lead programmes have exceeded expectations and targets, making a significant impact on grassroots youth groups in urban, rural and island communities throughout Scotland.

“Since 2013 almost 12,000 young leaders have been involved in the Young People Taking the Lead programme, supporting and developing the next generation of volunteers who will feed back into their local communities. The Small Grants Scheme also continues to be a success story, supporting more than 57,000 young people to participate in positive activities within their youth group setting.

“Both programmes are set to develop and grow, and we are grateful that CashBack for Communities funding enables us to promote and sustain volunteer-led youth work in Scotland”.

Notes To Editors

Phase 4 of CashBack funding begins April 1, 2017. The £412,000 announced recently will cover the nine month period between the start of phase 4 and June 30, 2015 when current funding for the Youth Scotland led partnership ends.

The Small Grants Scheme will receive £207,763 to support local volunteer led groups to enhance their programmes for young people.

Young People Taking the Lead will receive £204,512 to develop young people as leaders, volunteers and community contributors.

For more information on CashBack for Communities, visit: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/policies/community-engagement/cashback

Information on CashBack investment and activity levels broken down by local authority area is also available on the CashBack website within the Local Authority information packs.

For more information on Youth Scotland and their CashBack funded activities visit: http://www.youthscotland.org.uk/home.htm