Dozens of young people aged 13 to 18 in Inverness and the surrounding area at risk of involvement in anti-social behaviour and becoming targets for criminal or sexual perpetrators are to be supported thanks to a funding injection for a new project to be led by Barnardo’s Scotland.
The Anchor Project has received more than £450,000 from the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities scheme to create a detached youth work service with safe space in Inverness to focus on teenagers who may be subject to exploitation. The Hub will offer a safe space for young people to reduce the number of young people congregating in unsafe locations.
Barnardo’s Scotland is leading the project and will work in collaboration with Action for Children and Aberlour to support around 60 young people each year for the next three years. As well as the Hub space, which is based in the city centre, the Anchor team will engage with young people through street work in the areas where they are known to congregate in order to build trusting relationships.
The Anchor Service will support young people throughout evenings and at weekends, and will also provide telephone and text services which young people can access.