The new Fund from the Scottish Government will be run by YouthLink Scotland, and aims to enable the sector to engage and re-engage with young people from the most vulnerable communities.
We are delighted to announce today that 13,329 young people will directly benefit from £3 million of new funding for the youth work sector. The Scottish Government’s Youth Work Education Recovery Fund will enable the sector to support young people in some of the country’s most vulnerable communities to engage and re-engage with vital learning opportunities.
The fund, administered by YouthLink Scotland has made 64 awards to organisations across Scotland working with young people impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The overall aim of the fund is to support opportunities for young people to engage with youth work activities that build their confidence and skills; support their health and well-being; and that address the poverty-related attainment gap.
Commenting Deputy First Minister John Swinney MSP said:
“Scotland’s vibrant youth work sector plays a crucial role in supporting children and young people’s health and wellbeing, and in closing the attainment gap.
“Throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis we have seen the sector rise to the challenge of providing services remotely, supporting some of the most vulnerable young people across Scotland.
“This £3 million investment directly into youth work – which is expected to benefit more than 13,000 young people directly from some of the country’s most vulnerable communities – will help educational recovery from COVID-19 by providing additional targeted services where they are needed most.
“I congratulate all successful applicants to the Youth Work Education Recovery Fund, and wish everyone across the sector the very best, as you continue to do such vital work.”
Welcoming the allocation of this crucial funding for the sector, Tim Frew, CEO YouthLink Scotland said:
“We want to ensure that every young person can recover and take control of their own pathway towards renewal and success. In supporting them to achieve, the youth work sector demonstrates its unique role in closing the poverty-related attainment and achievement gap.
“Youth work has never been more needed and youth workers never give up on young people. Let’s work together to make this investment go far beyond our own expectations of what can be achieved.”
Funding awards of £20,000-£60,000 have now been awarded, with the aim of strengthening youth work and schools partnerships, increasing access to outdoor learning opportunities, and increasing the youth work provision for families and communities disproportionately disadvantaged by Covid-19.