The artistic director of a north-east performing arts group has heralded a successful year in which volunteers reached out to 16,000 local young people.
Peterhead-based Modo works with disadvantaged and vulnerable young people across the north-east.
In the past 12 months, the voluntary group has held more than 1,000 hours of workshops to more than 16,000 people – a 45% increase on 2015.
One of the successful programmes run by artistic director Martin Danziger is the youth cafe in Peterhead’s Drummers Corner. The aim of the scheme was to “divert” teenagers away from antisocial behaviour and into positive activities.
On average, 200 youngsters visit the youth cafe on a weekly basis and vandalism around Drummers Corner and Marischal street has fallen.
Last night Mr Danziger said: “The youth cafe in Drummers Corner has run three nights a week providing young people with fun and diversionary activities as well as access to advice, sign posting and volunteering opportunities.
“The work that Modo does would be impossible without the commitment, enthusiasm and support of the volunteers who contribute to every aspect of our work.
“Thank you to all of you.”
The group’s most high-profile event is the annual Aden-een festival at Aden Country Park, which celebrates both Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night.
This year was the event’s most successful to date with thousands of people gathering in the park to watch a display of Shakesperean theatre to mark the 400th anniversary of his death.
Now in its eighth year, the event ends with a spectacular fireworks display.
Elsewhere, the Modo volunteers were involved in coordinating the Choose Peterhead community project which is reshaping the town centre.
Thousands of people were asked for their opinions on how Peterhead’s shopping areas can be improved and an action plan to tidy up and regenerate the area is now underway.
Plans include redeveloping Drummers Corner, bringing more greenery to Broad Street and possibly converting a former church into a theatre venue.
