The UK’s largest specialist care centre supporting some of the country’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people is one of six projects today picking up a share of £665,161 from the Big Lottery Fund. The Kibble Education and Care Centre in Paisley will use its award of £195,000 from the Young People’s Fund, to build a state of the art ‘Life skills’ training centre dedicated to providing troubled young Scots aged between 12 and 16 years with vocational and life skills training.
Launched in August 2005, the Young People’s Fund is run by the Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors. With £20 million to distribute over the next two years the Young People’s Fund will help young Scots aged 11 to 25 learn new things and take part in healthy and positive activities that make them feel good about themselves.
Today’s six funded projects range from the creation of a skateboard park in East Ayrshire to an after school activity club for young people in the Highlands.
Douglas Graham Big Lottery Fund Board Member and Chair of the Young People’s Fund Committee, said: “The Big Lottery Fund wants to help young people fulfil their full potential by giving them the confidence and skills to achieve their personal goals and ambitions. Through the Young People’s Fund we want to fund projects that help young people adopt healthy and positive lifestyles and cope with the various transitions that they face in their life. What’s more, young people themselves have the power to decide which projects should be funded in their local area.”
The Kibble Education and Care Centre provides intensive residential care and support for young men aged 12 to 18. Today, the organisation picks up a Young People’s Fund award of £195,000 to transform its existing workshop on its Paisley campus into a Life skills training centre. The classes and training will aim to improve young people’s basic and practical skills leading to improved employability, future work opportunities and helping them in the transition to independent living.
Chief Executive of the Kibble Education and Care Centre, Graham Bell, said: “This award is wonderful news and means better facilities and opportunities for our young people. The centre will provide vocational and life skills training for young people at risk, aged between 12 and 16. It will house classrooms and workshops which will provide a one-stop-shop of educational and vocational training opportunities including formal qualifications and informal skills work.”