Crime cash to be poured into new youngsters’ studio
Money was seized from crooks by courts
Young creatives at Paisley YMCA will benefit from almost £ 10,000 of cash stripped from drug dealers and gangsters.
The money will be used to establish Renfrewshire’s first ever digital fabrication studio, which will allow young people to create, invent and learn using the latest digital technology.
Paisley YMCA has been awarded £ 8,947 from The CashBack for Creativity Open Fund, which ploughs money seized from criminals under proceeds legislation into community based arts projects across the country.
Claire McGinley of Paisley YMCA welcomed the funding, which will support local arts in the Year of Young People.
She said: “Paisley YMCA is delighted to receive this funding.
“This money will allow the young people of Paisley to turn their ideas into wonderful creations in our digital fabrication studio.
“Our young people wi l l learn science, technology, arts, mathematics and engineering skills in a fun and nurturing environment.”
The new studio will support young people aged 18 and under to develop skills and will enable them to tap into their creative side as artists or makers.
CashBack for Creativity is funded by the Scottish Government through the CashBack for Communities programme, which redistributes the proceeds of crime to benefit young people.
Since 2011, projects across the nation have benefited from a total of £ 1.4 million from the scheme.
Laura Black, arts officer with Cashback for Creativity, Creative Scotland, added: “The fund provides essential creative opportunities to Scotland’s young people to have fun in their communities while raising their aspirations for future employment and building confidence and selfesteem.”
The CashBack for Creativity Open Fund, administered by YouthLink Scotland and funded by Creative Scotland has awarded a total of £252,000 to 32 communitybased arts project across the country.
Scottish Justice Secretary, Michael Matheson said: “This investment of £ 252,000 in 32 projects underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackle inequalities across Scotland by helping young people to reach their full potential in life.”