Cashback for Communities
Young people aged 10-19 are benefiting from new opportunities to access the arts under the latest initiative from the Scottish Government's CashBack for Communities initiative.
The CashBack initiative was launched in January - pledging to use the proceeds of crime to fund youth projects and activities to give Scotland's young people the best start in life.
Since then millions of pounds have been committed to youth projects all over Scotland through three funding strands - with more still to come. The 'sports' strand has seen football and rugby playing opportunities for thousands of young people while a £3million grant scheme, administered by YouthLink, has seen money allocated for youth projects and youth organisations in all 32 local authority areas.
In May the ‘arts and culture' strand of funding seen £600,000 go to the CashBack for Communities Arts and Business Match Fund to support increased cultural activities for young people
across Scotland. Now, the first projects to receive funding are starting to use the cash to give youngsters a taste of drama, music and dance.
The funding strand, a partnership with Arts and Business Scotland (A&BS), is the first culturescheme supported by the Proceeds of Crime Act. A&BS are encouraging Scottish businesses to match
every £1 of government investment - doubling the money and releasing a minimum of £1,200,000 over the next two years. The funds will then be used to promote social inclusion through the arts for young people between the ages of 10 and 19.
Taggart star Alex Norton, who plays DCI Matt Burke in the long-running hit series, is a supporter of the business match scheme. He said:
"I'm delighted to support CashBack for Communities. We come across crime daily at work - albeit
it's fiction, but for many communities in Scotland, crime is a harsh reality. It's therefore great to see that cash seized from criminals who have made the lives of people in Scotland such a misery is now being used to provide positive opportunities for our young people.'
Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said:
"Through this excellent initiative with Arts and Business Scotland, we aim to use the proceeds of crime in a positive way, to expand young people's horizons through the inspirational power of the arts.
"Recycling the money of criminals into arts and cultural opportunities is poetic justice indeed and I now want to see this fund benefit young people across Scotland, particularly those who may not necessarily have the parental support to encourage them out to try new and different activities."
Barclay Price, Arts and Business Director added:
"Evidence shows that the arts can develop skills that help young people gain employment. By helping engage young people in the arts, the CashBack for Communities Arts and Business Match Fund offers business a great way to combat the impoverishment that blights the lives of many Scottish teenagers.
"The idea is simple; for every £1 a business gives to arts sponsorship, the fund will add another £1 to double the sponsorship benefits to the company - truly a win-win idea.'
For more information on activities and funding opportunities please visit
www.cashbackscotland.com
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