Youth projects to benefit from dormant cash

??Nine youth initiatives based in Scotland are to receive a slice of £383,272 from the Young Start Fund, which distributes money from dormant bank and building society accounts.

Alzheimer Scotland is among the beneficiaries, receiving a total of £45,820. It will use the funding to continue the "Forget me Not" project, which matches young volunteers with older people with dementia in care homes across Glasgow and West Lothian.

?Sian Hunter, volunteer co-ordinator at Alzheimer Scotland, said: "When they are given the opportunity young people can make a significant contribution to people living with dementia through genuine interest in that person, natural respect, patience and being a good listener."??

Character Education Scotland has also been awarded £50,000 to start a project that will use the centenary of World War I as a way of bringing different generations together. The "Inspiring Purpose" programme will work with around 1,000 young people and their grandparents or older relatives.?

?Ronnie Davidson, chief executive of Character Education Scotland, added: "Our Inspiring Purpose programme will enable young people and older family or community members to work together on a personal development project using the centenary as a key theme."??

Among the other projects to have been awarded funding is The Wilderness Foundation, which will run a series of learning courses in rural Scotland for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. ?

?Home-Start Dundee will also provide support to young parents and their children living in the most deprived areas of the city, while Disabilities Fife will provide respite and support to eight- to 24-year-olds who have caring responsibilities.??

?Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland chair, said: "Young Start helps ensure that Scotland's next generation has the best possible start in life. All of the successful projects share that ambition."