Funding boost for Monklands groups

Charity and youth project receive cash grants

Tw o Monklands organisations are quids-in after scooping a combined £18,000 worth of funding.

The Safety Zone community group in Bargeddie and Airdrie charity Hope for Autism received the welcome boost in the latest round of financial aid awarded by YouthLink Scotland.

Hope for Autism were presented with £10,439, with £7956 delivered to The Safety Zone.

The CashBack for Communities Youth Work Fund has been operating for nine years and following the latest allocation of awards, more than £10m has now benefited projects across Scotland.

Thrilled Hope for Autism CEO Eileen Waugh said: “At Hope, we are delighted to have received the CashBack for Communities award.

“This award has created the capacity for our project to deliver a new and unique service for our children and families that enables them to access their community and at the same time enjoy being outdoors in a safe and nurturing environment.

“We are able to plan to work with other community groups and build new partnerships that will ensure others in our community can also benefit from the work related to the fund.”

Andrew Allan, from The Safety Zone, added: “CashBack Funding enabled us to provide projects like our body image workshop, where we looked at the before and after effects of touched-up imagery in the media and reinforced selfconfidence with giving young women the platform to be proud in their achievement.

“Our coding club was also funded by the grant and young people were challenged to make a pedometer to promote an increase in physical activity.”

Making a difference Children at The Safety Zone will benefit from the award