The positive impact of Aberdeen City Council’s grants and support for care-experienced young people was highlighted today (Friday, September 15) at a national Corporate Parenting event.
The Champions Board National Event at the Apex Hotel, Dundee heard that, since the beginning of the year, 78 young people in Aberdeen aged between 14 and 25 had benefitted from Corporate Parenting grants of up to £500 to help provide opportunities that they might not otherwise have had.
The grant system - named Life Changes Trust: Individual Grants Funding for Care Experienced Young People - is managed by Aberdeen City Council in partnership with Aberdeen’s Third Sector Interface ACVO and Life Changes Trust and all applications are screened by an expert panel before a decision is made. Applicants must have at least three months experience of being in care.
Councillor Lesley Dunbar, vice convener of Education and Children’s Services and Aberdeen City Council’s Corporate Parenting Champion said: “Today has been a great showcase for the potentially life-changing support we and our partners have provided to disadvantaged young people.
“I’m sure the participants from across Scotland will have been impressed with what they have heard today about the support we have given to applicants and the fact that we are unique in the country in helping our young people devise action plans to take charge of their lives.
“We are justly proud of the work we have undertaken and we are committed to cutting the inequality gap and making a real difference to young people’s lives.”
The Champions Board event was attended by some 120 people including the Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Mark McDonald MSP.
