Seized Cash to Fund Youth Projects in Aberdeenshire

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed a new £3 million grant scheme for youth projects to be funded from the proceeds of crime. This latest strand of the Scottish Government's CashBack for Communities scheme will see Aberdeenshire receive £81,000.

The grant scheme will provide funding for projects which support young people involved, or at risk from violence, alcohol, drugs or antisocial behaviour as well as support for initiatives such as youth drop-in services and residential, environmental and outdoor activities including climbing walls, skate parks, mountain bikes and canoes and yachts.

Youth organisations and projects from across Aberdeenshire will be able to apply for a share of the money, which will be administered by YouthLink Scotland, the national youth work agency.

Commenting on the news, Mr. Stevenson said:

“This is the first time that the cash seized from criminals will be reinvested in youth organisations and projects in every part of Scotland and young people in Banff & Buchan and the surrounding areas are to benefit to the tune of £81,000.

“The grant scheme is designed to give young people in Banff & Buchan and across Scotland the opportunity to realise their potential and enable them to have real hopes and aspirations for the future. It is imperative that we give our young people positive things to do with their lives and demonstrate the vast possibilities that lie before them.

“I would strongly encourage local groups to apply for this funding, and take advantage of the opportunity it presents for young people in Banff & Buchan.”
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Notes to editors:

The Justice Secretary announced the first strand of the CashBack for Communities scheme on January which will see over £2.2 million of the proceeds of crime providing free football coaching and playing opportunities for upwards of 30,000 people.

This latest strand will use £3 million seized from criminals to fund a grant scheme for youth projects and youth organisations in all 32 local authority areas of Scotland.

The grant scheme will be open to bids from local groups and partnerships for:

funding for projects, particularly in areas of multiple deprivation, which fill gaps in provision and will deliver agreed outcomes for young people and groups of young people funding for organisations which support young people involved, or at risk of involvement, with violence, alcohol, drugs and/or antisocial behaviour.
The money will be distributed, based on the percentage of population aged 10-19 and the percentage of those aged 10-19 in the 15 per cent of the most deprived areas.

YouthLink Scotland will administer the grant scheme. There will be two applications stages, with the first running in April/May 2008 with decisions taken by May 2008. The second stage will take place in August 2008 with decisions taken by mid-September 2008.