Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Card gives a helping hand to youngsters
IAN BUNTING
Monklands youngsters facing significant barriers to their wellbeing and attainment at school are benefiting from extra support, including free travel tickets, holiday food provision and membership to local leisure facilities.
That’s because the youths are using their Young Scot National Entitlement Cards ( Young Scot NEC) to access these additional bonuses, which are known to improve health and performance in school.
Partners and young people from North Lanarkshire involved in the project celebrated the latest successes of the “attainment challenge: national strategic partnership” at a gathering in Dundee.
They spoke passionately about the positive benefits the project is having on them.
The initiative began in 2018 when Young Scot partnered with the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, the Improvement Service and councils to offer extra entitlements to young people who are facing inequality and povertyrelated barriers.
The extra entitlements offered to youngsters via their Young Scot NECs are all known to improve health and wellbeing; they are drivers to improving educational attainment which reduces inequality and challenges poverty.
Young Scot’s project, backed by the £ 750 million Attainment Scotland Fund, gives youths in
North Lanarkshire, Falkirk and Dundee access to “a fantastic array of free benefits, from travel tickets and holiday food to activities such as BMX sessions, golfing, ice skating and gym memberships”.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Closing the attainment gap in schools is only possible by making sure every child has the same opportunity to succeed, including by being able to travel, take part in active pursuits, and make the most of opportunities that may otherwise be inaccessible to them.
“This project is a shining example of the diverse ways in which young people’s life chances are being improved in communities across Scotland.”
Louise Macdonald, Young Scot CEO, added: “Every young person in Scotland deserves the equal opportunity to reach their full potential.
“It’s incredible to see this project change the lives of so many young people.
“The Young Scot Card allows us to partner with local authorities and young people themselves to provide additional services to support their wellbeing and attainment.”
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