Boot camp battling to survive

A CONTROVERSIAL boot camp for some of Scotland’s worst offenders is fighting to remain open after public funding was withdrawn.

The Scottish Executive decided to stop a grant of more than 550,000 to the Airborne Initiative after a BBC documentary series called Chancers showed youths taking drugs, drinking and absconding.

The Lanarkshire rehabilitation project - used as an alternative to prison for criminals aged 18 to 25 - is now being wound up and the last member of staff will be made redundant in April. But last ditch efforts are being made by the group to secure backing from the Executive for its work and a contribution towards its costs.

It also said it was in negotiation with two unnamed organisations that were interested in providing alternative funding.

The Executive has said that while the fly-on-the-wall documentary brought attention to Airborne, the decision to scrap funding was made because the project was not giving value for money.

Tony Burley, Airborne general manager, told Scotland on Sunday: "There are moves to keep Airborne open. There are people talking to other funders who could help us if the Scottish Executive come back in. Two big organisations have been approached."

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive told Scotland on Sunday last night that it would not come to the rescue.