Supporting young people’s futures across Scotland
Eleven organisations across Scotland have received a share of £181,592 from the Bairdwatson Charitable Trust to help young people develop skills, gain qualifications and move towards employment.
The funding will support a range of projects working with young people who face barriers to employment, education and training. Activities include vocational skills training, work experience, employability support, accredited qualifications and mentoring opportunities.
Established in memory of John Neil Bairdwatson, the Trust has been making grants across the country since 2011. This latest round of funding will help hundreds of young people gain practical experience, develop confidence and access opportunities that can lead to long-term employment. Among the organisations receiving support is Building Futures Galloway, which will employ a stonemason to teach young people traditional building skills using stone and lime. The project aims to encourage interest in a craft that faces a shortage of new entrants while helping participants develop skills that can lead to future employment.
| "The Bairdwatson funding will allow us to continue and extend our work with young people who have been unemployed and are learning the complex and ancient craft of stone-carving, which is in critically short supply of young entrants. Repair of Scotland's stone buildings is key to addressing fuel poverty, dereliction and Net Zero targets, and it can supply young people with lifelong careers which will not be replaced by AI. These young people will now be able to pass on their skills to some of the most vulnerable High School pupils, aged 14-16, as a result of the funding." |
Falkirk Football Community Foundation will use funding to deliver a 12-week employability and physical activity programme designed to help young people rebuild confidence and develop skills that support progression into employment or further education.
| “Falkirk Foundation are incredibly grateful to the Bairdwatson Charitable Trust for their support through the Back in the Game programme funding. This funding will allow us to deliver meaningful opportunities over 12 weeks for young people aged 16-24 to rebuild confidence, improve wellbeing, and connect with others through sport and physical activity. Our new programme will make a real difference to the young people we work with in the community, supporting them towards employment with the development of key skills and qualities, using sport acting as the hook for enjoyment and bringing young people together." |
The Trust is also supporting Getting Better Together Ltd in North Lanarkshire to continue delivering its Trackside Horizons programme, providing vocational training and employability support for disadvantaged young people.
| "The support from The Bairdwatson Charitable Trust will enable disadvantaged young people furthest from employment the opportunity to gain accredited vocational qualifications, practical employability skills, and peer support through our Trackside Horizons programme. This funding will create lasting opportunities for young people to build confidence, progress toward employment, and become positive role models within their communities." |
Other awards include support for hospitality training through Clay Community Church's Community Café, outdoor instructor training with Outfit Moray, work experience and employability programmes delivered by Scran Academy and Lambhill Stables, specialist sewing training through Creation Mill CIC, and the Notice Me! Employability Passport Project delivered by Third Sector Hebrides. Funding will also help Move On provide driving lessons, tests and employability support to unemployed young people facing barriers to work.
| "Thanks to the continued support of the Bairdwatson Trust, Move On has been able to transform lives, supporting young people to overcome complex barriers, build confidence, gain skills, and progress into employment, education and brighter, more stable futures." |
Meanwhile, All Strong Scotland will deliver an employability programme combining recognised fitness qualifications, work experience and personalised support for young people who face barriers to mainstream education and employment.
| "This generous grant from The Bairdwatson Charitable Trust is hugely helpful in enabling All Strong to further develop our support for employability and personal development, directly funding fitness qualifications and mentored work experience for eight young people with additional challenges." |
The funding awarded through this round demonstrates the Bairdwatson Charitable Trust's ongoing commitment to helping young people across Scotland develop the skills, experience and confidence needed to access employment opportunities and achieve their potential.
Read more about the Bairdwatson Charitable Trust