Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, has welcomed the news that Ok Skate has secured a grant of £50,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Young Start programme.

Commenting on this, Dave said: “This is a substantial grant which will be a huge boost to the community on Skye. We received some promising figures yesterday showing a small drop in youth unemployment, but there remains much to be done, and community projects such as Ok Skate can have a huge positive impact on young people’s lives.

Ok Skate will use the grant to establish a drop-in centre in Portree on the Isle of Skye. At least 100 young people aged up to 18 years old will benefit from this centre in the next year.

The centre will offer a wide range of social and recreational activities, as well as providing support and advice services for problems affecting young people.

The grant will be used to pay for a year of rent, rates and electricity costs, as well as the required furniture, refurbishment, IT equipment, advertising and website development. Some of the grant will also cover sessional tutors and workshop fees.

Dave added: “I am delighted that Ok Skate have secured this grant which will cover the running of the centre for a year, in which time it will make a substantial impact on the lives of young people on Skye.

“I congratulate Mrs Lesley Hellon of Carbost on securing this significant grant, and I look forward to seeing the benefits this project will bring to the young people of Skye.”