Life-changing funding boost for groups empowering young Scots

The National Lottery Community Fund, which delivers the Young Start fund, today (WEDNESDAY 19 OCTOBER) announces £1,876,551 to 23 youth led projects that will help develop the skills and talents of thousands of young Scots.

See attached list of projects in your area

A club which provides fun and friendship for hundreds of young people across Edinburgh can keep its doors open. Thanks to award of £100,000 Deaf Action will continue to bring young people across the city together like 17-year-old Emily, who has been part of the Youth Club since she was nine years old.

Emily said: "My experiences with Deaf Action’s Youth Club have been amazing," says Emily. "When I first joined, I was really shy and didn’t know much about my deafness. But ever since I’ve been here, I’ve met new friends and the activities have helped me learn more about myself.

"The leaders here, who are also deaf, have helped us all learn more about our deafness. We can look up to them and can see how they’re successful, and it just helps to know that things later in life are going to be good.

"The best part of being in the Youth Club definitely has to be making friends. The friends I’ve had for the longest time have been the ones I’ve made here and have to be the best ones I’ve ever met."

Lauren McAnna, Deaf Action Community Services Manager said: "This funding will be used to continue to deliver and grow our vital Youth Club, which makes it possible for deaf young people to enjoy the same opportunities as their hearing peers. We will offer a range of fun and motivational opportunities to help them to build life skills, while they explore their deaf identity and unique culture.

"Our programme is shaped by the diverse voices of our young people, who through our Club, enjoy the sense of feeling like an equal amongst their peers."

An award of £92,000 to Tweeddale Youth Action SCIO means they can continue their 'Food Punks', project which provides cookery, communication, and teamwork skills to local young people.

Dave Hodson, Locality Manager at Tweeddale Youth Action said: "We are hugely grateful for the support. Through our 'Food Punks' project, we have seen some hugely positive outcomes from young people on the margins, who in some cases had been written off and had written themselves off. Learning some nifty cookery skills is the tip of the iceberg for our crew who also learn how to work as a team, communicate effectively, and how important it is to be able to rely on each other and cope with high pressure environments."

One young person who has benefitted from the project is 16-year-old Cameron* from Peebles who says that the project has helped him gain the experience and skills he will need when he leaves school and looks for a job.

Cameron said: "I'll be leaving school soon, and I’ll need to focus on either further education or getting a job, but environments like collage or school aren’t my favourite. The youth club has offered me help and are looking for employment opportunities for me, which makes me feel confident in that I now have more opportunities than I did before.

"The staff give me responsibilities like handing me a recipe and they know they can safely trust me in the kitchen without accidentally setting the kitchen on fire or cutting myself! Having that level of responsibility really helps me focus on what I’m doing and getting it done safely, and overall, and gives me confidence for a more independent future."

Announcing today’s funding, The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: "These latest awards, made to such a diverse range of projects, will make such a difference to the lives of thousands more young people like Emily and Cameron. Deaf Action and Tweeddale Youth Action are both fantastic examples of how Young Start funding can help organisations deliver invaluable services to young people across Scotland.

"We are always keen to support projects that put Scotland’s young people at the heart of the development and running of services. If your group has an idea how you would make this happen, then we’d love to hear from you."    

Young Start helps young people aged eight to 24 become more confident and play an active part in realising their potential. Funding of up to £100,000 is available for youth led projects. Groups can apply by emailing advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or calling 0300 123 7110.    

Find out more at: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/young-start  

Date published: 19 October, 2022
Region: Scotland

Notes to Editors

• Under the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008, the Reclaim Fund releases funds from dormant bank accounts to the National Lottery Community Fund for distribution to good causes across the UK.   

• 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.     

• 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 the National Lottery Community Fund on 2 August 2011. Scotland receives 8.4% of the total funds distributed.         

• We are the largest funder of community activity in the UK – we’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. National Lottery players raise £36 million each week for good causes throughout the UK**. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £43 billion has been raised for good causes which has supported over 635,000 projects***, benefiting millions of people - that’s 255 projects per postcode area.   

• We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.

Young Start

Helping young people aged eight to 24 to become more confident and play an active part in realising their potential.