Youngsters welcomed home after week-long coastal tour

Muirhouse Youth Development Group has welcomed home ten young people after a week-long voyage around the west coast of Scotland.

Their voyage with the Scottish Ocean Youth Trust is the final leg of Project Northern Lights – an eight-week adventure and personal training programme established to help disadvantaged young people.

Last Friday, the sailing boat the Alba Venture arrived back in Greenock harbour.

The programme, which reaches out to youngsters in some of the most deprived areas of north Edinburgh, is supported by businesses.

Led by WildFox Events3, it aims to build the skills, experience and confidence of people aged 12-25 who have no formal qualifications and who live chaotic lifestyles.

Jonny Kinross, development worker for the group, said: “Our justice system can’t solve the problems of crime and antisocial behaviour by itself. It requires grassroots reinforcement through positive action so that Scotland’s young people can become valued members of their communities.”