£19 million CashBack funding allocated

Youth projects share cash seized from criminals.

Projects for disadvantaged young people will share £19 million seized from criminals.

New organisations to benefit from the latest round of CashBack for Communities funding include Eden Court arts project in Inverness and the Mayfield & Easthouses Youth 2000 Project. They will work closely with young people from areas of deprivation to provide them with positive opportunities to raise their attainment and aspirations.

The CashBack for Communities scheme reinvests criminal assets into community projects which support young people into positive destinations, diverting some away from potentially criminal or anti-social behaviour.

A total of 24 organisations have been awarded funding, taking the total investment in the unique programme to more than £110 million since it began in 2008.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said:

“CashBack is a unique and potentially life-transforming programme that helps expand young people’s horizons and supports them to realise their ambitions and reach their full potential.

“This phase of CashBack has a particular focus on projects that support young people and communities most affected by crime. We are working hard to tackle the root causes of crime and disorder through early intervention and to ensure those affected have the support in place to steer them away from criminal or antisocial behaviour.

“Since the programme began in 2008 we have delivered over two and a half million activities and opportunities for young people across Scotland and I am delighted that many further young people will be supported and inspired over the next three years.”

Mayfield & Easthouses Youth 2000 Project’s Youthwork Coordinator Lyndsey Ritchie said

“We are absolutely delighted to be a new partner in the CashBack Phase 5 funding. Support to address youth offending and anti-social behaviour has always been at the heart of our work.

“Development of our 180 service has been enhanced by previous phases of CashBack funding but news of an award under CashBack Phase 5 has given our project the best possible start to 2020.

“We can now plan ahead with the young people and community stakeholders in the knowledge that this service, the only one of its kind in the authority, has been secured for the next 3 years – a luxury in this challenging financial climate”.

Martin Crewe, Director of Barnado’s Scotland, commented on their continued involvement on the new phase of CashBack:

“Barnardo’s Scotland is delighted to be continuing to work as delivery partners on the next stage of the CashBack for Communities programme, as existing partners we know from first-hand experience the transformational impact the programme has had on young people.

“We are looking forward to the next exciting stage of the programme, working with more young people most affected by crime and anti-social behaviour.” Martin Crewe Director of Barnardo’s Scotland

Background

The CashBack for Communities programme is a unique Scottish Government programme which takes funds recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and invests them into community programmes, facilities and activities largely, but not exclusively, for young people at risk of turning to crime and anti-social behaviour as a way of life.

Groups to benefit from the latest CashBack funding will be: