74 Scottish charities are sharing over £1.4 million in the latest round of awards made by Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland. Just over half of this is going to five charities to work with children and young people affected by drug and alcohol misuse.

Mary Craig, the Foundations Deputy Chief Executive, said: “Our Partnership Drugs Initiative concentrates on improving the lives of vulnerable young people on issues around drugs and alcohol. In our latest round of awards over £721,000 is going to five charities to deliver much needed services in local communities.

“We’ve also made 58 awards totalling over £631,000 which will support the day to day work of Scottish charities and 11 awards totalling just over £58,000 to help charities build their own capacity.”

In Aberdeenshire, Link-Up (Fraserburgh) Ltd was awarded £16,842 over three years to support the Fraserburgh Youth Mentoring Project.

Wilma Winton, Mentoring Project Co-ordinator, said: “This money will allow us to keep delivering support to young people in the Fraserburgh Community School Network area who are affected by parental substance misuse. Unfortunately, Fraserburgh continues to have high levels of drug and alcohol misuse, so the work we are doing can make a real difference to the youngsters we reach.

“This project works by linking a young person with a mentor to build their confidence, access activities, learn new skills and have access to a reliable adult in their lives. Many of the young people we work with lack stability in their lives, and its amazing the difference putting a little of this back can make”

This award brings the total they have received through our Partnership Drugs Initiative to £31,970 since 2006.

Charities who would like more information about applying to the Foundation for an award should contact us on 0870 902 1201. The next deadlines for applications are 2nd May for the Partnership Drugs Initiative, and 19th May for the Standard Grant Scheme.