NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 26 May 2009a BLAIRGOWRIE’S SCYD VISIT PARLIAMENT Staff and volunteers of Blairgowrie Strathmore Centre for Youth Dialogue (SCYD) were represented at the Scottish Parliament last week during a ProjectScotland event. SCYD Service Manager Craig Cantwell and volunteer Kimby Tosh from the SCYD told MSPs at the Scottish Parliament, including MSP Murdo Fraser, about the great support that ProjectScotland gives to voluntary sector projects like SCYD. ProjectScotland was founded in May 2005 with the aim of revolutionising youth volunteering in Scotland. In the past four years, over 2900 young people have spent on average six months volunteering full time with over 300 charities and not-for-profit organisations all over Scotland. To date, over 130 young people in Perth and Kinross have benefited from a ProjectScotland placement. Eighteen year old Kimby has been a trainee Youth Worker at SCYD since the end of 2008. At the end of 2007 the SNP Government announced that it was cutting ProjectScotland’s funding, despite the organisation’s track record of delivering positive outcomes. Commenting, Murdo said: “It was excellent to have SCYD visit the Scottish Parliament and speak on behalf of ProjectScotland and the importance of the organisation. Craig and Kimby outlined eloquently to a packed room of MSPs and other volunteers the role of ProjectScotland and its links with SCYD. “It is clear that ProjectScotland carries out life-changing work for young people and I believe it is a mistake that the SNP Government is cutting the funding for this excellent volunteer programme. “As a result in the cut in funding from the SNP Government, only 13 young people were able to carry out volunteer placements in Perth & Kinross in 2008/09 compared to 67 placements in 2007/08. That means that young people in Perthshire are missing out on gaining experience and local organisations are missing out on having valuable young volunteers. “SCYD is an excellent centre for our local young people in Blairgowrie. Craig and Kimby are a testimony to the great work that is carried out at the SCYD. We are lucky here in Blairgowrie to have the centre as it allows young people to find out about health, social, educational issues in an atmosphere that is open and friendly.” ENDS   back to top of page