The Gannochy Trust and Perth and Kinross Council have renewed tenders to support the Universal Youth Partnership delivering vital support services to young people between the ages of 11-19 across five localities in Perth & Kinross.
Universal Youth Work is a vital service in Perth & Kinross, providing a safe place for young people to meet, socialise, and to influence a youth work programme that meets their needs. The service also supports young people through non-formal learning awards and provides a collective voice for young people locally and across the county.
Seven Youth Work charities have been awarded £1,755,524 through the funding scheme, which include YMCA Tayside, Strathmore Centre for Youth Development, Alyth Youth Partnership, Coupar Angus Youth Activities Group, The Breathe Project, Logos Youth Project, and Kinross-shire Youth Enterprise.
These are the same agencies that won the first round of Universal Youth Work funding between April 2019 to March 2024, and as before, the new tenders will support core or project costs to assist agencies to deliver their work for the next 3 years, with an extension for an additional two years to March 2029.
The outcomes of Universal Youth Work are widespread, from helping young people to build self-esteem, develop and manage personal and social relationships and creating vital learning and skills development opportunities, to encouraging positive group atmospheres and giving young people a voice in the community.
Between 2019 and 2023, with support from the first round of funding, the Universal Youth Partnership of seven agencies doubled the number of young people it reached, including a staggering 98,087 contacts with 11-19 year olds, equating to 42% of the school population between S1 and S6. The funding has also supported 37,000 volunteering hours, to support the delivery of youth services, equating to a value of up to £500,000.
Having access to a single pot of funding has dramatically increased the effectiveness and reach of Universal Youth Work in the community. No longer do agencies have to compete for local funding streams, allowing for greater collaboration as agencies share ideas, seek peer support and draw on each other’s resources.
The fund has also provided longer term security enabling youth work charities to strategically plan and offer staff longer terms contracts, as well as reducing the time commitment involved in annual funding rounds, with a greater focus on the delivery of core outcomes.
Andy Duncan, CEO of The Gannochy Trust said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Perth and Kinross Council to jointly fund the Universal Youth Partnership. The success of the first five years of funding is evident with more and more young people being reached, with a greater range of services and volunteer support. We look forward to seeing Universal Youth Work grow in the community, delivering vital services that improve the lives of our young people.”
Councillor Grant Laing, Leader of Perth and Kinross Council, said: “The renewal of these contracts demonstrates our continuing commitment to empowering young people and supporting the growth of youth groups in communities across Perth and Kinross. By combining our resources with those of The Gannochy Trust we can make lasting impact on the lives of local young people by providing sustainable support for groups who can help them achieve their full potential.”