July 2022

4 NEWS
Cashback for
Communities
Deadline approaches for £20 million fund
Justice Secretary,
Keith Brown
By STAFF REPORTER
COMMUNITY PROJECTS will receive up to
£20 million over the next three years to
continue supporting young people and
communities most affected by crime.
Since the Cashback for Communities
programme began in 2008, funds recovered
through the Proceeds of Crime Act have
provided crucial support to around 1.3 million
young people across all local authority areas.
Cashback has funded a wide variety of
projects over the past 14 years including sports,
arts, youth work and employability which
provide extensive opportunities to raise the
ambition and aspirations of young people.
The latest phase of funding will guide those
most at risk of being impacted by crime, to
more positive destinations while also helping
young people to improve their physical and
mental health.
Justice Secretary Keith Brown said:“Young
people growing up in Scotland deserve to have
an equal chance of success, no matter their
background or circumstances and CashBack
plays an important role in providing young
people with the tools they need to reach their
full potential.
“The valuable feedback from young people
who have benefited from the programme
helped inform this latest round of funding.
Participants reported that improving their
mental health and well-being was a key priority
for them due to the effects of the Covid-19
pandemic, which also links to our Vision for
Justice in Scotland.
“This funding of up to £20 million will
deliver a range of activities for young people
between the ages of 10-25 and boosts the total
funding made available to almost £130 million
since the Programme began in 2008.”
Applications are open until 12 August.
PROFILE: Cllr Vicky Nicolson
SNP CLLR NICOLSON is
originally from Ayrshire and
came to live in Edinburgh
back in 1995.
She said: “I was a young
student and within months of
living here I fell in love with
this amazing city. I went on to
have my family here and we
have spent more than twenty
happy years here.
“I love spending time with
my children, my dog,
gardening, holidaying in
Scotland, being with family
and friends, reading widely,
enjoying the live music
offered, especially country
music and keeping up with
politics, and being both
connected with my
community and a
community connector.”
She told us about one day
since the election: “This
morning I got up early and
finalised a full council motion,
tidied up an SNP conference
motion about inclusion for
individuals who live with a
learning disability and replied
to emails from residents. I
went to Orchard Bank, had a
walk with residents concerned
about road works and rubble
left behind.
“I took my dog a walk to
Easter Drylaw Park, noticing
how much better it looks
following our Community
Council’s recent litter pick but
also noticing other areas
needing done.
“I wandered along to
Goldenacre and visited a
couple of the lovely shops
there and then took a bus into
town, reflecting on the
excellent training I’ve had and
how much my experiences as
a single parent, a council
officer for 20 years and a
community councillor/activist
have helped me quickly find
my feet but also how much
there is to learn.”
Sun shines on Leith’s Sandy
LEITH FESTIVAL’S Mock Provost Sandy Campbell (pictured above) played a main role
at the Gala Day parade. The “Provost” told The Edinburgh Reporter: “If only I was the
real Provost and Leith was independent and had its own Provost back again. We would
prevent Leith being like West Berlin and completely blocked in by all these tramworks.
We used to have our own trams which were perfectly good until we joined Edinburgh
in 1920. 102 years under the yoke of Edinburgh!”