8 June 2016
A grant from ANCBC, which was established to distribute the funds from ScottishPower Renewables’ Harestanes Windfarm, has enabled Aberlour to pay for a ‘Young People’s Worker’. The new role will offer support to young people aged 11-17, who are experiencing social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties in the Annandale and Nithsdale areas.
The charity has a long track record of supporting young people in Dumfries and Galloway as part of its Aberlour Futures service.
This grant will support the implementation of a new peer mentoring scheme which will offer accredited training to young people from schools and colleges who are interested in achieving a qualification in Peer Mentoring. This will enable the service to support approximately 20 young people in the Dumfries and Annan area.
Other groups to benefit include Closeburn Gala Fundraising Committee to purchase a new trailer, Tinwald Parish Hall Committee to replace hall doors, Durisdeer Village Committee to contribute to the drainage, groundwork and tarring of Durisdeer Hall car park, Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival to pay for hire of festival venue and Food Train towards the purchase an additional local delivery van,
Rachel Murdie, Service Manager at Aberlour Futures – Dumfries and Galloway, said: “We are very grateful to ANBC for their generous donation, which will allow us to roll out our peer mentoring program, which allows young people who have been helped by the service, to offer support to others.
“At Aberlour Futures, we understand that attending school can be difficult for some young people, for a whole range of reasons. We are committed to helping those with social, behavioural or emotional difficulties, to complete their education, by offering tailored support.
“Often, hearing from another young person who has been through similar challenges, can make a powerful difference to someone who is struggling. This recent donation from ANCBC will help us to do that.”
Martin Brown, ANCBC Chair said “The Service that Aberlour provide to vulnerable children at risk of not competing their education is a vital additional resource for children that find it difficult to attend school for whatever reason. ANCBC are very pleased to contribute to the vital support for our young people”
Kenny Peberdy, UK Onshore Director for ScottishPower Renewables said “We are pleased to see projects that are making a positive impact in the local community being supported. £8 million of funding will be available for communities over the 25 years that Harestanes windfarm is anticipated to operate for, and we hope that many more local projects come forward to seek support in the coming months and years.”