Troubled young people living in deprived parts of Edinburgh are being given guidance along life’s paths through an innovative project supporting them into employment, training, education and volunteering.
An extra 20 vulnerable young people living in the capital have been able to join Venture Scotland’s Journey year-long development programme after the charity received a grant of £15,000 from Aberdeen Asset Management’s Charitable Foundation.
The cash injection means more young people are being assisted to overcome challenges that hold them back, and are able to develop skills that will help them overcome the challenges that lie ahead.
In addition to the funding, a number of Aberdeen Asset Management staff have taken up volunteering roles to support the charity in its work to help young people develop their potential and play a positive role in their communities.
Young people aged between 16 and 30 undertaking the Journey programme have a range of issues including mental health problems, homelessness, drug or alcohol misuse or a history of offending.
The programme consists of four stages to be completed over a year and uses the powerful medium of outdoor activities to help participants discover more about their strengths.
Young people complete stages based around challenge, adventure and leadership through wilderness experiences with residential at the charity’s Glen Etive bothy, and outdoor hill and water based activities. This develops skills like setting goals, team working, communication, problem solving, adapting to unfamiliar situations and developing resilience. The final stage of The Journey is community and sees young people take up volunteering placements and work experience, as well developing CV building, interview skills and personal mentoring.
The most recent evaluation of people that have completed the programme showed that 16 per cent had achieved an employment outcome, 19% had achieved an education outcome; 20% had achieved a training outcome, with 34% achieving an increase in all soft skills.
One participant said: “I have put a lot of hard work into sorting my life out but I know I could not have done it without Venture Scotland. The Journey and the opportunities I’ve had having completed the course have saved my life.”
Tam Hendry, chief executive of Venture Scotland explained that the goal is to help troubled young people, primarily from areas of social deprivation, face and tackle the issues that hold them back.
Mr Hendry added: “We help them maximise their opportunities and develop crucial life and workplace skills that will allow them to make the transition into adulthood and have active and successful lives, while supporting them into employment, training, education and volunteering.
“With one in eight under 25s unemployed and an increase of nearly 30,000 under 30s living in poverty the need for this type of intervention is ever increasing.
“We would like to thank Aberdeen Asset Management both for their funding and the volunteer input of staff members, both of which are making profound differences to the lives of vulnerable young people in the Edinburgh area.
Karin Hyland of Aberdeen Asset Management’s Charitable Foundation said: “Venture Scotland’s Journey programme is making a difference to lives and empowering vulnerable young people by developing their skills, confidence and resilience through building long-term relationships. It is resulting in positive changes in their lives and leaves them better placed to face the future.”
The Aberdeen Asset Charitable Foundation was established in 2012 to formalise and develop the Group’s charitable giving globally. The Foundation seeks partnerships with smaller charities around the world, where funds can be seen to have a meaningful and measurable impact and the firm encourages its employees to use their time and skills to support its charitable projects. For more information visit http://www.aberdeen-asset.co.uk/aam.nsf/foundation/home