Photo credits: Starcatchers
Across Scotland, CashBack for Communities supports organisations creating opportunities for young people and families to connect, develop confidence and build positive futures.
Whether through creative experiences for young parents or community cooking programmes that bring people together around food, these projects provide safe and welcoming spaces where participants can learn new skills, strengthen relationships and become more connected to their communities.
Partner Spotlight 1: Starcatchers (Fife)
Photo credits: Starcatchers
CashBack Project: CashBack for Young Parents
Through CashBack for Communities, Starcatchers and Fife Gingerbread deliver CashBack for Young Parents, supporting parents under 25 (with babies aged 0-2) who are affected by, or at risk of entering, the criminal justice system.
The project combines trauma-informed arts experiences with specialist family support, helping young parents strengthen attachment with their children, build confidence and develop skills for the future. Through creative group sessions led by professional artists, families can play, create and grow together in nurturing environments.
Partner Perspective
One recent highlight from the project was Mums in Focus: Our Stories, an exhibition celebrating the experiences and voices of young parents and their children involved in the programme.
Through weekly creative play sessions, families explored photography, poetry, music and art. Using disposable cameras, parents and children captured the people, places and everyday moments that are important to them and their communities. Families also created acrostic poems which were transformed into original songs by artist Claire Docherty.
The exhibition gave families the opportunity to share their stories, celebrate their achievements and reflect on their experiences through creativity.
One parent said:
“I absolutely love the exhibition and feel proud of it! It’s been really nice showing my grandparents what we’ve been doing. It’s been so fun doing all the different activities to put it together. We especially loved the music one! And it’s so special to have a song especially for my daughter.”
Another shared:
“The exhibition is really cute! It’s been fun doing all the stuff for it. My daughters love cameras after we did the photography stuff. It was also great being able to play with different instruments when we made our songs. It’s been so lovely to see the reactions of my older daughter listening to the song about her younger sister. It was so special!”
Learn more about the project: Starcatchers – CashBack for Communities
Partner Spotlight 2: Edinburgh Food Social (Edinburgh)
Photo credits: Edinburgh Food Social
CashBack Project: CashBack Community Cooking
Through CashBack for Communities, Edinburgh Food Social delivers Community Cooking, supporting young people aged 10-18 in Craigmillar, Niddrie and surrounding areas.
The project provides practical cooking opportunities that help young people develop new skills, gain qualifications and build confidence, while creating safe spaces where they can connect with peers and trusted adults.
Partner Perspective
A recent example of the project’s impact can be seen through its involvement in Friday Night Lights, a weekly football session in Niddrie and Craigmillar that offers young people a safe place to play sport, socialise and engage with their community.
Once a month, Edinburgh Food Social joins the programme, bringing freshly prepared food and opportunities for young people to get involved in cooking and serving. From food trucks to pizza ovens, the project uses food to spark conversations, build confidence and encourage participation.
Young people are encouraged to ask questions, try new ingredients and play an active role in preparing and serving food. For some, these experiences have sparked a deeper interest in cooking, with participants progressing into Edinburgh Food Social’s wider youth programmes.
As Police Scotland noted:
“Although football is the hook, it provides an opportunity for enhanced community engagement, leading to key conversations aiming to assist the young people work towards more positive destinations.”
They added:
“A key aspect of this activity is the provision of food, and this has proved invaluable in enhancing the interest in the programme, and assisting young people, many of whom are from extreme poverty, to have access to suitable, healthy food provision.”
Learn more about the project: Edinburgh Food Social CIC – CashBack for Communities
While their approaches differ, Starcatchers and Edinburgh Food Social share a commitment to creating welcoming spaces where people can connect, learn and thrive.
By using creativity, food and meaningful relationships to engage participants, both projects are helping build confidence, reduce isolation and strengthen communities across Scotland.
Want to learn more?
To learn more about CashBack for Communities and its work supporting young people and communities across Scotland, see our 24-25 Impact report
