Over £½m for ‘looked after’ young people

Over £550,000 will be spent helping ‘looked after’ young people in South Lanarkshire.

Welfare bosses announced new funding to help improve the lives of those who have spent time in care.

Projects such as mentoring programmes, counselling services and driving lessons have been supported through the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund.

Now more than £12 million of further funding will be spent across the whole country, with £570,000 being handed to South Lanarkshire Council to provide support.

The local authority was among the top four councils in Scotland to receive the largest share of the cash, with only Glasgow City, Edinburgh City and North Lanarkshire receiving more.

Bosses at the council will work with chief social workers and directors of education to decide how this year’s funding will be used.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Improving the education and life chances of all our children and young people is the defining mission of this government.

“However, we know that many young people living in, or leaving, the care system may face barriers to achieving their full learning potential.

“That is why we are providing local authorities with more than £12 million this academic year to support work which seeks to raise attainment for care experienced children and young people through targeted action.”

Care experienced young people from birth up to the age of 26 are eligible for support. Measures of support include extending free NHS dental care, boosting childcare provision and more help for college students.