An Elgin-based youth work organisation hopes to bring its ethos “run by young people, for young people” to even more communities across the north-east with the help of the Press and Journal’s minibus.
For the fifth year, community groups are vying to win the 17-seater vehicle as part of our competition in partnership with the energy firm CNOOC International.
The Elgin Youth Development Group hopes to acquire the bus so that more young people can be driven to its community facility.
By expanding their reach with additional pick-up points in rural areas in Moray, they aim to tackle social isolation and loneliness in youngsters.
The charity celebrated its 21st anniversary this year and aims to be a nurturing place for young people in Elgin and for those outwith the town whose parents are able to transport them to the Warehouse – formally known as Elgin Youth Café.
It runs holiday and after-school workshops teaching healthy cooking and workplace skills.
There are also drop-in sessions with experienced youth workers for young people who are facing difficulties in their lives.
The charity’s chief officer, Claire Ferguson, said: “We do amazing work with young people but feel we’re very restricted because we rely on young people making their own way here.
“If we were lucky enough to have a bus then we could take what we offer into the wider community and give a broader range of young people access to it.”
The Elgin Youth Development group host a weekly ‘eat, chat and chill’ club on Tuesday evenings where they put on a hot meal for young people and invite them to come together to enjoy the company and food.
They want to open up this invite to many more young people across the north-east with the minibus.
The youth charity is aiming to accumulate the most tokens and hope the community will help them in their efforts.
Youth worker Sarah Fiske said: “I would like to say thank you to anybody who’s thinking of supporting us and putting in the tokens on our behalf, because it really would benefit so many young people.”
Ms Ferguson added: “We can’t do what we do without the support of the community and we’re very fortunate that every time we ask for help with something everyone is so kind-hearted and supportive of what we do.”
Tokens will be printed until February 1 and must be returned by the competition’s closing date of February 10.
Groups may enter as many times as they like but each entry form but have 50 tokens attached.