CashBack for Communities funds activities and programmes for young people across all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities. Check out our new ‘Activities in the Area’ resources to find out what we deliver in your local authority.
CashBack for Communities supports young people from all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities. It takes funds recovered from the proceeds of crime and invests them to deliver free activities and programmes for young people.
In 2023-24, CashBack partners supported over 15,000 young people most at risk of involvement in the justice system towards positive destinations.
Our new ‘Activities in the Area’ resources highlight the impact the programme is having with young people and their families and communities, as well as the power of local partnerships in improving lives.
Click on the name of a local authority below to see a snapshot of activities in the area. You can also scroll through our Impact page to find a breakdown of activities and spending by year in each local authority, as well each local authority’s Activities in the Area resource.
Young people’s stories
No one can capture the impact CashBack is having better than young people themselves.
For example, basketballscotland deliver CashBack Community of Basketball in Glasgow. It builds young people’s resilience through activities that improve their physical, mental, and social health. Jane, a young participant, shares:
“I was a bit of a windup merchant in school and never took school seriously, but thanks to the support I received, now I know what I need to do to actually get somewhere in life.
They never saw me turning out like this!”
The National Autistic Society’s Moving Forward+ supports young people in North Ayrshire. It is for autistic young people who are not engaging with school (10-15), or who are not in education, employment, or training (16-25). N, a 22 year old from North Ayrshire shares:
“Before Moving Forward+, I had lost confidence due to a bad experience at work. I was also experiencing health issues preventing me from working. All of this led to me having anxiety about the next chapter in my life.
Through working on the programme, I am now feeling healthy and strong, and in remission from ulcerative colitis! My confidence has improved, I can now go on the bus by myself and face possible issues without as much anxiety.
I have now secured voluntary work within my old school and I am loving it.”
Local partnerships
Our 29 CashBack partner organisations deliver a wide range of programmes, many in collaboration with local partners. For example, the Scottish Football Association’s CashBack Achieving Goals engages young people aged 10-25 in activities to divert them from antisocial behaviour. In Clackmannanshire, they run a Football Leaders programme for S3-5s focussing on leadership and coaching.
Football Leaders runs in targeted community secondary schools including Alloa Academy. It is a tailored learning programme, using football as a catalyst with young people who may be disengaged from education.
“Football Leaders has been fantastic. Pupils are now confident in sharing and leading practices to the rest of the class […]
There is also more respect now shown towards members of staff and the PE department. Pupils are now willing to work with any other pupils in the class, reducing negative interactions when pupils make mistakes.”
Mr McCracken, PE Teacher, Alloa Academy
Note: In most cases, we have used pseudonyms to protect the young people featured in these resources.
Find out more
- Learn more about the difference CashBack is making in the lives of young people and their families and communities in our 23-24 impact report
- Visit our Impact page to see a breakdown of project activities and spending by year
