A Moray charity has embarked on a quest to help disadvantaged teenagers find their way into work by sampling life in the great outdoors.
The Lossiemouth-based Outfit Moray group is looking to help vulnerable 16 to 18-year-olds boost their chances of employment by taking them on rigorous eight-week activities programmes in Scotland’s wilds.
But members must first secure the funds required to make it a reality, and yesterday they issued a plea for Moray residents to offer their backing.
The programme has recently been shortlisted in a national drive organised by the Royal Bank of Scotland, whereby beneficiaries are decided via public vote.
In urging locals to show them some support, Outfit Moray outlined the benefits the initiative could bring some of the region’s poorest families.
More than 20% of Moray’s young people live in poverty, and the group believes its efforts could help alleviate deprivation in some of the region’s worst-hit areas.
If Outfit Moray manages to get the scheme off the ground, it will combine with the area’s secondary schools to identify youngsters who could gain the most from its outdoor education sessions.
The charity’s Melanie Newbould said: “We want to work with disadvantaged teenagers who have left high school without much in the way of qualifications.
“We’ve created a programme that will teach these young people life skills to motivate them and make them more employable.
“The idea is that this will boost their CVs and give these teenagers a helping hand when it comes to looking for a job, which could help reduce poverty in the area.”
The charity hopes the skills youngsters learn on the course could help propel them into further education if they are unable to secure employment right away.
Fund allotments will be decided following the popular vote, but Outfit Moray is hopeful of acquiring tens of thousands of pounds to help bring the project to fruition.
Typically Outfit Moray uses isolated beauty spots, such as the Applecross peninsula, in Wester Ross, to carry out its activities.
Votes can be cast to help the group achieve its latest aim at www.skillsandopportunitiesfund.rbs.com/vote/vote-in-scotland.