Vulnerable youngsters in £10m lottery windfall

THOUSANDS of vulnerable young people in Scotland will benefit from a massive £10 million cash injection of lottery money.

Big Lottery Fund grants totalling 10,558,553 are being shared amongst 21 Scottish projects in the latest round of funding, including one that offers young offenders and those leaving care first-hand experience of running a business, and another which helps people with disabilities make the transition from education to adult life.

Young Enterprise Scotland has been awarded a grant of 845,000 to give young people in Edinburgh the chance to design, set up and run a small-scale business over a period of 13 weeks, with any profits given to charity.

The Rock Trust has been awarded 574,000 to support young people leaving care to improve their social skills, as well as move them into employment.

About 216 care-leavers and 700 workers and carers in Edinburgh and the Lothians will benefit.