Hillcrest Futures secures £94K to support Dundee young people with additional needs
Scottish charity Hillcrest Futures has successfully secured £94,575 from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Young Start programme to support a new role to help young people in Dundee.
The three-year grant will enable Hillcrest Futures to employ a full-time Project Worker at its Activities Hub, which offers a wide range of creative and life-enhancing workshops and group activities for people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health challenges, and those on the autism spectrum.
The new project worker will help plan and deliver weekly activities to young people aged 16 to 24, including cooking, gardening, music, arts and crafts, and social events, both in the Hub and out in the community. They’ll also work closely with individuals to provide one-to-one support, especially during the summer when structured support is often reduced.
The Activities Hub helps young people build friendships, learn life skills, grow in confidence, and feel more connected to others. Many of the young people supported by Hillcrest Futures face a gap in services after leaving school or further education. The Hub aims to fill that gap and help them move on to college, training or other adult services with the skills and support they need.
Ingrid Hainey, Strategic Business Manager at Hillcrest Futures, said: “This funding means we can reach more young people at a crucial point in their lives. Many of those we support feel isolated or unsure of what comes next after their studies. Our Activities Hub creates a welcoming space where they can build confidence, learn new skills, and connect with others. We’re incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for their support.”
Young Start aims to create opportunities for Scotland’s children and young people aged eight to 24 to help them realise their full potential. Young Start is a grants programme run by The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money from dormant bank accounts. Dormant accounts are deposits of money in bank and building society accounts where there has been no activity for 15 years or more.
