Young people to vote on most project most deserving of £8,000

Young people in Shetland will get the chance this week to vote on how £8,000 of public money should be spent on activities and projects that will directly benefit them.

Eleven separate “bids” have been made for the money, described as the “YouChoose” funding pot, ranging from increasing public transport at the weekends and peer education sessions for young mothers to Parkour training and the development of a skatepark.

Each group has created a short video explaining the benefits of their project. Those aged between 12 and 25 can vote for their chosen project online with their Young Scot card number.
The videos can be seen at: www.youngscot.org/local/shetland/1336-youchoose-voice-your-choice.

Voting sessions will also be held in schools (Aith – Thursday; Brae – tomorrow and Friday; Anderson High School – tomorrow; Whalsay – Friday) with a final session at the Islesburgh Community Centre on Friday from 2pm to 4pm.

Youth development worker Martin Summers said: “Everyone is welcome to the final YouChoose voting session. We will show the videos, you can vote for your favourite projects and hear the final results announced. Come along and see whether your favourite projects win, even if you voted earlier in the week. Every vote counts.”

Shetland member of the Scottish Youth Parliament Emily Shaw said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the young people of Shetland to have their voice heard and I hope all young people will use their vote to say how they want the £8,000 to be spent. The bids have all been developed by young people for young people. We now have a choice about who will get the funding.”

The £8,000 budget has been drawn from Shetland Youth Exchange, Shetland Youth Bank and Fairer Shetland Funding and was doubled by a successful LEADER Project bid.