Announcing Phase 5 of the CashBack for Communities Programme

Youth Scotland funded in Phase 5 of the CashBack for Communities Programme

EDINBURGH, UK (24 January 2020) – The Boys’ Brigade Scotland, Girlguiding Scotland, Scouts Scotland and Youth Scotland today announced they have been successfully funded as part of CashBack for Communities Phase 5, to continue their Generation CashBack programme for a further three years. 

A total of 24 organisations have been awarded funding, taking the total investment in the unique programme to more than £110 million since it began in 2008. 

Justice Secretary, Humza Yousaf said: 

“CashBack is a unique and potentially life-transforming programme that helps expand young people’s horizons and supports them to realise their ambitions and reach their full potential.  

“This phase of CashBack has a particular focus on projects that support young people and communities most affected by crime. We are working hard to tackle the root causes of crime and disorder through early intervention and to ensure those affected have the support in place to steer them away from criminal or antisocial behaviour.” 

Youth Scotland will continue to be part of the programme in a consortium with The Boys’ Brigade Scotland, Girlguiding Scotland and Scouts Scotland.  

Speaking about the announcement, Ian McLaughlan, Youth Scotland’s Chief Executive said:  

“Youth Scotland is delighted to continue our successful partnership with the consortium of The Boys’ Brigade Scotland, Girlguiding Scotland and Scouts Scotland. Our work in Generation CashBack has been impactful in the communities most needful of opportunities, training and development for young people, and we are proud to be able to continue that work across Scotland for another three years.  

Our progressive, community-based youth work programme will reach 8,000 young people across Scotland over three years, through two strands: ‘Grow’ and ‘Leading in the Community’. Grow will help new and existing youth groups to grow their offer for 6,000 young people. Using a needs-analysis approach, Local Development Officers (LDOs) will support Grow groups to increase their focus on tackling anti-social behaviour and delivering diversionary activity.  

Through Leading in the Community 2,000 young people, disadvantaged and affected by crime, including those in Young Offenders Institutions, will be supported to learn and develop new skills which improves their educational and employability options through each consortium partner.  

We are excited for this next phase of Generation CashBack and are looking forward to delivering these opportunities for young people in their communities.” 

For editors: 

About Generation Cashback: 

The current phase of Generation CashBack  runs from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2020 and has been supporting the Scottish Government’s aim to tackle inequalities by having a greater focus on young people from areas of deprivation and other disadvantaged young people. You can see how we have delivered this here: 

• Overview of Generation CashBack (summary/film) 
• Generation CashBack – Story of Year 2 (report/statistics) 

As part of CashBack for Communities Phase 5, the phase next of Generation CashBack will run from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2023. 

About Youth Scotland:  

We are the largest national youth work organisation in Scotland, supporting 66,000 young people, 1,450 youth groups and over 8,200 youth workers. Youth Scotland has been around since the early 20th century and has a diverse membership network – from small rural youth groups to large urban projects. The common goal that we all share is better outcomes for young people. 

Our membership network is made up of local youth groups of all sizes, Area Associations and Youth Scotland staff who can provide support and training on a range of youth work topics. We are proud of the varied, universal youth work our network delivers and the innovative solutions our members create in an ever-changing youth work landscape.