A newly created £3 million Youth Work Education Recovery Fund opened for applications on Monday.
The fund is targeted at those communities and young people who need the most support, bringing SNP Government spending in the youth work sector this year to over £12.5 million.
In doing so, the SNP Government has increased its funding for youth work by more than 30%, recognise the vital role the sector will play in making up any ground lost in learning during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Recovery Fund is administered by YouthLink Scotland, the national youth work agency and is open for applications from Community Learning and Development services that help young people engage and re-engage with learning. Submissions should support partnership work between November 2020 and the end of August 2021.
Further and Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead MSP said:
“Scotland’s vibrant youth work sector plays a crucial role in supporting children and young people’s well-being, and in closing the attainment gap.
“Throughout lockdown we have seen the sector rise to the challenge of providing services remotely, supporting some of the most vulnerable young people across Scotland."
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
“This £3 million investment in youth work will help education recovery from COVID-19 by providing additional targeted services for young people across North Ayrshire and Scotland, where they are needed the most.
“Awards will vary from £20,000 - £60,000 and will do a lot to strengthen 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.”
Tim Frew, CEO of YouthLink Scotland, said:
“This fund presents an opportunity for the sector to continue to innovate and develop new models of practice in collaboration across the public and voluntary sectors, alongside our partners in schools and colleges.
“Young people across Scotland have shown extraordinary resilience. They have had to put up with so much, missing out on many things that we often take for granted, and as they face the uncertainty of what comes next we will be there to support their educational recovery. In supporting them to achieve, the youth work sector can demonstrate its unique role in closing the poverty-related attainment and achievement gap.”
The application form and further guidance can be found here.
Online applicant support sessions have been organised regionally to support partnership working and to allow potential partners to make contact and share ideas.
The South West application support session, which includes North Ayrshire, takes place online on Wednesday 23 September from 12:00 - 13.30.
Please contact Roisin Bathe via rbathe@youthlinkscotland.org to book your place.
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