Extra Funding To Break Poverty Cycle

Attempts to prevent disenfranchised school children from falling out of the system have been given a cash boost.

Kirkcaldy Councillors have put £18,320.07 from the area committee's Anti-Poverty Fund to help "early interventions", bringing the total for the project to £34,764.

The Lang Toun has some of the highest levels of poverty and deprivation recorded in Scotland.

The project will use a youth work approach and work on a partnership basis to try and ensure that vulnerable and at risk young people have their needs met and basic knowledge of life skills enhanced.

The programme meets individual needs and targets communication skills, basic life skills, initial employability support and awareness to life impacting issues. 

It will consider the risks which may affect these young people and provide information, teaching and awareness raising to reduce that risk. 

The scheme's aims are:

• To improve ability to sustain mainstream education and improve ability to achieve;
• To support their improved life chances thorough increase personal and social skills, ability to communicate and engage effectively with others;
• To ensure they are equipped with the skills necessary to manage within schools and further learning establishments
• To increase their overall ability to work towards further educational or employment opportunities.

Councillor Neil Crooks, Chair of the Kirkcaldy Area Committee said: “This grant from the Kirkcaldy Area Anti-Poverty Fund will contribute towards important intervention work that can improve school attendance, increase young people’s ability to achieve qualifications and improve life changes.

“The project uses a youth work approach, with a particular focus on early intervention, and an aim to improve attainment by S4. Four separate projects will be delivered to S1-S4 pupils and is based on successful work carried out last year that had a positive impact on the young people taking part.”