Care experienced young people in Orkney are to be supported by targeted funding.

The Care Experienced Children and Young People fund for 2020 from the Scottish Government will be administered by local councils.

Orkney Islands Council has been awarded £26,400 to invest in projects designed to boost the attainment of local care experienced children and young people.

The council will work with Chief Social Workers, and Directors of Education, to decide how this year’s funding will be used.

Care experienced young people from birth up to the age of 26 are eligible for the support.

£11.6 million has been distributed to local councils across the whole of Scotland

Maree Todd, Minister for Children and Young People in the Scottish Government and who represents the Highland and Islands which includes Orkney, said:

“The challenges posed by this pandemic mean that the Scottish Government’s efforts to tackle the attainment gap are now more important than ever.

“That’s why I’m delighted to hear that Orkney Islands Council will receive this funding boost to help break down the barriers faced by care experienced young people living in Orkney.

“Last year the fund was used to support a host of projects – from outdoor learning schemes, to providing looked after children with laptops to study from home.

“I look forward to seeing how the council will put this money to good use, and offer some of our most disadvantaged pupils the support they deserve.”

Local councils will have the flexibility to redirect the fund from existing plans.

John Swinney, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister said:

“We know that there are still many barriers facing young people in care and that they are not always able to access the same opportunities as their peers.

“This funding will help remove those obstacles and allows local authorities to provide targeted help for some of our most disadvantaged pupils.”