This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding for youth project
21/01/2005
First Minister Jack McConnell and Lord Laidlaw of
Rothiemay today met with some of the vulnerable young
people supported by the Laidlaw Youth Project.
During their visit to the Edinburgh Volunteer Centre, Mr
McConnell confirmed that the Scottish government will
continue to support the Laidlaw Youth Project with a grant
of £250,000 for 2005/06.
The centre is one of 42 projects that have benefited
from funding from the Lord Laidlaw's charity since it was
established in January 2004.
Speaking at the centre, the First Minister said:
"When Lord Laidlaw and I launched the Laidlaw Youth
Project we said that everyone has a responsibility to work
together, to break down the artificial barriers that stop
our most vulnerable young people reaching their true
potential.
"The Laidlaw Youth Project is an example of how this can
work in practice. Hundreds of young Scots across the
country have already benefited from the help and assistance
provided by the fund. Our commitment to continue to offer
financial support will mean that hundreds more will be
given that same opportunity.
"Our young people are our country's greatest natural
asset. We must give them the support that they need in
order to be the best that they can be. We must give them a
chance at success and, if they don't make it with that
first chance, we must give them others. Investing in the
future of all of our young people is an investment that
this country cannot afford not to make."
Welcoming the announcement, Lord Laidlaw said:
"I am delighted at the First Minister's gesture of
confidence in the work of the Laidlaw Youth Project. We
share a genuine desire to make a difference to the lives of
disadvantaged young people in Scotland. I look forward to
more joint ventures in future."
The Laidlaw Youth Project was set up with an initial £1
million donation from Lord Laidlaw and a contribution of
£250,000 from the Scottish Executive. This was announced at
a conference in November 2003 with the Project opening for
business in January 2004.
The vision of the Laidlaw Youth Project is to act as the
funding glue to promote partnership working and to support
activities for children and vulnerable young people which
result in better outcomes for the organisations and the
young clients. In the first year of operation, 42 projects
and activities were selected for funding. Of that total, 37
were supported with Lord Laidlaw's contribution and a
further 5 were funded by the Executive's contribution. Full
details can be found at laidlawyouthproject.org.
The Volunteer Centre Edinburgh: puts people in contact
with organisations where they can volunteer; provides
advice and information to organisations on involving
volunteers; and, promotes social inclusion through
volunteering. It received funding from the Laidlaw Youth
Project to pilot Youth Team Volunteering Opportunities in
Edinburgh - with a particular focus on introducing excluded
young people to the idea of volunteering.
The project comprises 3 different community challenges:
the make over of a Moredun Community flat; the design and
building of a web page encouraging volunteering by young
people; and, the promotion of volunteering by young people
to young people.
The community flat team volunteering opportunity is
being run in partnership with Streetwork's "Give Youth a
Chance" initiative in South Edinburgh.
Streetwork "Give Youth a Chance" has a remit to working
with young people from 12 - 25. They do this in two
specific ways: detached youth work - providing support and
information for young people on the streets to foster
positive life choices; and, youth action - encouraging and
developing young people's individual and collective
capacity to engage in their community.