Local groups cash in on Youth Chex
Youth Chex Grant Makers cast an eye over funding applications before making their final decisions
THREE Berwickshire projects are amongst 19 youth-led schemes in the Borders to have benefitted from a share of £15,000 in grants from Youth Chex.
The ten young grant-makers who make up Youth Chex have the power to make decisions and award sums of money to their peers to turn ideas in to reality.
And those who had their funding wishes granted included Berwickshire High School Environmental Issues Group; Eyemouth High S3 Drama Group and Eyemouth Reading Group
The panel received many high quality applications from youth groups, clubs, schools and sports teams requesting funding for a variety of things including sports equipment, art materials, musical instruments, theatre tickets, books, first aid training programmes and to organise events for others.
The Youth Chex grant-makers met at the start of this month to deliberate, score and reach decisions on the grant applications. When assessing the applications, the panel scored the bids against a number of indicators including how the projects will make a difference to young people’s lives and whether the projects are youth-led, innovative and good value for money.
This process is supported by the staff team of Scottish Borders Youth Voice and the experience contributes to the young people’s achievement of the Introduction to Grant Making award from Youthbank Scotland.
Councillor Vicky Davidson, Executive Member for Culture, Sport, Youth and Communities commented: “We are fully committed to supporting youth-led activities that will benefit young people in all areas of the Borders. “We see great benefit of the Youth Chex approach for the learning and development of grant-makers and grant applicants; developing skills in planning, organising, budgeting, literacy and numeracy.”
SBC’s Children’s Champion and Council Convener, Councillor Graham Garvie added: “Young people know what is important to them and their peers, which is what is so great about Youth Chex – it empowers young people to make real decisions that will have a positive impact on communities across the Borders.”
Youth Chex is an affiliated member of Youthbank Scotland. During a recent Youth Chex meeting, Finlay Watt from Galashiels and John Redpath from Gordon were elected as Youthbank Scotland National Forum Representatives. They will begin their new responsibilities on March 23 at the first meeting of the National Forum.
The next round of Youth Chex funding will be launched in May 2013 with a closing date for applications in September.
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Weather for Duns
Monday 20 May 2013
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