Chance to Change receives Government backing

A SOUTH Lanarkshire employability project that helps tackle youth reoffending through the work of volunteer mentors is to be extended.
By Ross Thomson
Published 8th Jul 2014, 12:30 BST
Chance meeting...Alex Salmond with Chance to Change volunteersChance meeting...Alex Salmond with Chance to Change volunteers
Chance meeting...Alex Salmond with Chance to Change volunteers

Chance to Change, run by a Public Social Partnership led by third sector support body Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire (VASLan), will now run until March 2017.

It’s thanks to the extension of the Reducing Reoffending Change Fund set up by the Scottish Government, the Robertson Trust and the Scottish Prison Service.

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The scheme involves training and supporting volunteers who then meet regularly with young people who have committed multiple minor offences but have expressed a desire to change their lives and find employment.

Ian McLaughlan, of Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire, (VASLan) is one of Chance to Change’s project co-ordinators.

He said: “With Chance to Change, we are dealing with a challenging client group and it can take longer periods of time to see progress happening.

“So any extension is welcome.

“It will help us to continue the progress we have been making with youth offending in South Lanarkshire and will also allow us to develop the experience we have gained over last year and continue to build on a solid base.”