For immediate release:

CASH FROM CRIMINALS GOES TO SOUTH LANARKSHIRE PROJECTS

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has welcomed the news that the CashBack for Communities programme invested over £215,000 in local projects in South Lanarkshire last year.

The Cashback for Communities scheme, which was established by the Scottish Government, reinvests criminal assets into community projects which support young people into positive destinations, diverting some away from potentially criminal or anti-social behaviour.

The next phase of funding will take total investment in the programme, which is unique to Scotland, to almost £110 million since it began in 2008.

CashBack has funded a variety of projects in the past 11 years, and recently awarded grants to Cambuslang and Rutherglen Universal Connections, Flemington Hallside Church, and the Burnhill Youth Project.

Figures show that South Lanarkshire benefited from £215,369 of funding in 2017-2018. Since the launch of the scheme in 2008, projects in South Lanarkshire have received a total of £2,130,000.

Commenting, local MSP Clare Haughey said:

‘This is a tremendous initiative that ensures criminals do not benefit from the proceeds of their crimes.

‘Every young person in this country should have an equal chance to make the most of their lives regardless of background. Promoting projects that will give our young people new skills, while displaying that crime does not pay, allows for positive life choices to be accentuated.

‘I would encourage any local group who thinks they can benefit from Cashback for Communities funding to apply as soon as possible.’

Phase 5 of the CashBack for Communities programme opened for applications on the 15th May, running until 28th June. Find more details on the main Cashback for Communities website at https://cashbackforcommunities.org/.

ENDS

Notes:

2017-2018 recipients of Cashback for Communities – which includes Cambuslang and Rutherglen Universal Connections, Flemington Hallside Church, and the Burnhill Youth Project – can be found on the below link:

Click to access YouthLink-Scotland-2017-18-Annual-Report.pdf

The Scottish Government’s press release can be found on the below link:

https://news.gov.scot/news/cashback-for-communities

Date published: 16th May 2019