Big helping hand for young people

Social affairs correspondent

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Sarah Colquhoun was 18 when she joined the Eco-Chic Fashion Freak programme, which gives 16-19 year olds creative arts training.

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stephen naysmith

Run by Creative Pathways, an initiative from the social enterprise Impact Arts, the scheme aims to give young people not currently in work or training a viable career option, through working full time with art tutors. Creative Pathways is funded by Big Scotland's Young Start fund, which will mark its anniversary this Thursday, by granting an additional £1m in cash to 26 new projects, using funds retrieved from dormant bank accounts.

Having tried studying childcare and worked in a sandwich shop, Ms Colquhoun, pictured below, was no longer in work or education when she joined the project. But she used the opportunity to build on her basic sewing skills, to the point where she was the first person on the scheme to sell her work publicly. Now she takes on clothing commissions and is applying for funding to set up her own recycled fashion business.The Young Start Scheme has so far paid out more than £7m across 165 projects.Ahead of announcing the latest funding packages, Big Scotland director Jackie Killeen said: "The work funded will help young offenders as they prepare to leave prison, provide a network of support for young people with eating disorders, and engage creative imaginations. We're delighted to be funding these projects, which reflect the aim of the Young Start programme to create opportunities for children and young people to help them be all they can be." Successful applicants in the latest round will include Vision Mechanics, a creative team specialising in indoor and outdoor events which is to receive £25,770 towards an environmental arts project covering Possilpark in Glasgow, Mayfield and Muirhouse in Edinburgh, and Lochgelly in Fife.Also funded will be Tay Maritime Action, which will give young offenders at Castle Huntly Prison the opportunity to gain skills and confidence that will help them with getting work, training or further education when they are released. Meanwhile Beat (the Eating Disorders Association) provide helplines, online support and a network of UK-wide self-help groups to help adults and young people in the UK beat their eating disorders and will receive £47,102.The Young Start investment comes from dormant bank and building society accounts that have seen no customer-initiated activity for at least 15 years.

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Big helping hand for young people

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