A CHARITY is launching a venture providing secure areas to scale back the variety of younger individuals in danger, because of a authorities funding injection.
The Anchor Undertaking, led by Barnardo’s Scotland, has obtained greater than £450,000 from the Scottish Authorities CashBack for Communities scheme.
The pioneering plan goals to create a indifferent youth work service and construct trusting relantionship with youngsters who could also be topic to exploitation.
The Hub will assist dozens of younger individuals aged 13 to 18 in Inverness and the encompassing space prone to involvement in anti-social behaviour and turning into targets for legal or sexual perpetrators.
The Anchor crew – primarily based within the metropolis centre – will have interaction with youngsters on the Hub house and in areas the place they’re recognized to congregate all through evenings and at weekends, and also will present phone and textual content providers.
Barnardo’s Scotland will work in collaboration with Motion for Kids and Aberlour to assist round 60 adolescents every year for the subsequent three years.
Martin Crewe, Director of Barnardo’s Scotland, defined: “We are going to have interaction and can use outreach to construct relationships and set up belief with younger people who find themselves much less prone to search assist.
“Delivering the service on this space is significant as analysis from Police Scotland has revealed an enormous improve in little one sexual exploitation since 2015.
“Since October 2021, greater than 85 younger individuals beneath the age of 18 have been recognized as topics prone to exploitation.”
Jim Wallace, Director of Kids and Households at Aberlour, commented: “We’re happy to be a part of this strategic partnership to supply a secure house and road work to help younger individuals locally.”
Fiona Metal, Motion for Kids’s Performing Director for Scotland, added: “I’m assured that by working along with Barnardo’s Scotland and Aberlour we will finest utilise our expertise and sources to assist the younger individuals within the Highlands.”
To donate to Barnardo’s Scotlad go to www.barnardos.org.uk/get-involved/raise-money.
