Local ‘befriending’ project awarded funding

Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) has been awarded £30,066 under the latest Young Start Awards.

The awards – run by the Big Lottery Fund Scotland – saw eight projects across the country share a total of £319,606.

The cash will allow VAO to continue their Young Person’s Befriending Project for the next two years, offering support to 30 vulnerable young people, aged between 7 and 18.

Gail Anderson, chief executive of VAO, said: “We are delighted at the announcement that Voluntary Action Orkney’s ‘Young Person Befriending Project’ has received funding from Young Start and are grateful for their continuing support.

“The funding will allow us to recruit and train additional volunteers to respond to the increasing demand for our service and so enable us to support more vulnerable young people in Orkney.”