£1.5 million to help young Scots into employment
27 May 2014 04:31 PM
Projects giving young people the skills and
experience to help them into work are to benefit from a cash injection of over
£1.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund announced yesterday (27
MAY).
Announcing the three awards from the Fund’s
Investing in Communities programme, Big Lottery Fund, Scotland
Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “These projects will boost the
confidence and future prospects of many young people by giving them vital
skills and training to prepare them for their future job search. And, as part
of this support, they will also benefit from valuable, practical work
experience. I am delighted that, through this investment, we will be able to
help some of the most marginalised young people build productive positive
futures.”
Young people with learning disabilities in East
Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire will get help in developing their skills
for future employment, thanks to a grant of £715,686 for
ENABLE Scotland’s employment project.
David Cameron, Head of Employment for ENABLE
Scotland said: “Thanks to the incredible support of The Big
Lottery Fund, ENABLE Scotland will launch EAST (Employment Academy for
Supported Training), an innovative employment project to support people who
have learning disabilities enhance their skills and confidence in order to
secure and sustain paid employment.
“Through EAST ENABLE Scotland’s employment
team will work with young people aged 18 to 30 and assist them to develop
personalised plans, which will lead them into employment. They will also
receive benefit advice, travel support, pre-employability activities and six
months of aftercare, to ensure employment is sustained.”
Action for Children's Moray
Care Farming project will improve the skills, confidence and employability of
vulnerable young people in Moray. A grant
of £345,000 will go towards a 12-week
programme that will focus on building self-confidence and life skills.
Individuals will then get work experience with a local farmer or
horticulturalist.
Sheila Erskine, Service Manager, Action for
Children Moray and Aberdeen, said: “Action for Children is
delighted to have received this award to support the care farming service in
Moray. There are many benefits to the service including supporting young people
to increase their employability skills; placement opportunities to support a
career in agriculture and farming, and helping young people gain a
qualification.”
Four Square (Scotland)’s new
Springboard project will use their grant
of £573,235 to provide an employability
training and volunteer work placement scheme for people aged 25 years or over
living in Edinburgh, who are furthest removed from the job
market.
Heather Arni, Chief Executive, Four
Square, said: “Four Square’s vision is that
‘everyone has a home and a place in their community’ and it strives
to achieve this through working with people to overcome multiple barriers to
employment such as homelessness, mental health issues, substance misuse and
offending behavior.
“We are absolutely delighted to receive this Big
Lottery funding as it will enable us to deliver our new Springboard project. We
will provide accredited employability training, vocational training and work
experience in Four Square’s social enterprise Edinburgh Furniture
Initiative (EFI). This funding will assist us to work with some of the most
vulnerable people in our community to make positive changes in their
lives.”
Big
Lottery Fund Press Office: 0141 242 1451
Out of hours media contact: 07823 552 889
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @BIGScotland #biglf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland
Notes to editors
- The Big Lottery Fund is
responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the
National Lottery.
- 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
returned to the Good Causes. Since the National Lottery began in 1994,
£31 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants
awarded.
- The
Scotland Committee makes Big Lottery Fund decisions on Scottish projects.
As well as taking devolved decisions on Lottery spending, the Committee, led by
Chair, Maureen McGinn, has and will continue to play a strategic role in the
future direction of BIG in Scotland.
- The
Big Lottery Fund is investing in Scotland’s communities through its
Investing in Communities portfolio, as well as a number of small grants
schemes.
-