Glasgow group receives funding from KFC Youth Foundation
As part of its biggest ever funding round, the foundation has awarded the grants to three Scottish charities and community groups, including Glasgow's Kingsway Community Connections.
This comes as KFC celebrates 60 years in the UK and Ireland.
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John Swinney to visit one of Glasgow's 'most deprived areas' for health project
Kingsway Community Connections is a community development organisation set up by and for the people of the Kingsway estate in north west Glasgow.
The charity helps people improve their health and wellbeing by running a range of services and activities, including a new youth group for boys.
Joe McShannon, programme and development coordinator at Kingsway Community Connections, said: "KFC Youth Foundation recently helped to fund our youth group for 11- to 15-year-old boys.
"This group addresses real issues associated with poverty and inequality that impact local young people.
"This funding will give the group greater independence to develop fun and exciting projects that encourage positive life choices in a space in which they feel safe, trusted and supported.
"We are extremely grateful to KFC Youth Foundation for their support to make this happen."
The KFC Youth Foundation has been supporting grassroots community organisations for 10 years, with more than £10 million provided over this time.
This year, almost £500,000 has been given in total across the UK.
The organisation aims to create a lasting positive impact on the lives of young people through the grants provided to grassroots community organisations.
Jenny Packwood, chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at KFC Pan-Europe, said: "The outlook for young people is tougher than ever before, which is why the KFC Youth Foundation funds local charities across the UK that help young people access support and opportunities to unlock their potential.
"The Foundation's latest round of funding is the biggest yet and forms a crucial part of KFC's commitment to support the communities we serve as we mark 60 years in the UK".
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The Herald Scotland
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The forward section of Type 26 Frigate HMS Cardiff is rolled out from the SBOH at BAE Systems Shipyard in Govan, Scotland. Picture: John Linton/BAE Systems/Royal Navy | John Linton Despite conflict still raging on the European continent and the situation in the Middle East still resulting in lives, including children, being lost every day, the SNP has not had a proper debate about where it stands on defence policy since 2012. Instead a position to block investments perceived to be linked to munitions and an unassailable opposition to the Trident nuclear weapons system, located on the Clyde, are the SNP's flagship defence policies. 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SNP's 'awkward' defence stance 'We have an industry in Scotland worth many billions of pounds, employs somewhere between 33,000 and 35,000 people and it has a very awkward relationship with the Scottish Government - it has done so for a very long time.' Mr McDonald has suggested Mr Swinney should gather the major and smaller defence employers in Scotland, 'get the defence procurement minister up from London and say 'how do I marshal the resources of the government, spending, policy, legislative, to better support this industry?'.' READ MORE: BAE Systems funding provides 300 jobs boost for Scottish shipyards Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The former SNP MP added: 'At a time of heightened international conflict, Scotland's defence industry has a part to play. 'I understand there's a bit of political balancing to be done here, but I think that can be over-thought and over-egged. We do live in much more dangerous times and there's a risk we are just saying the same stuff we've been saying for a long time - and that just would not be credible to stand still politically as the entire world changes around you.' Mr McDonald branded the Scottish Enterprise ban on investments relating to munitions 'a stupid policy' and hit out at the restrictions in place for the Scottish National Investment Bank. He said: 'Defence is the one industry that has enormous growth happening in it right now and that's not likely to end time soon. So why should our National Investment Bank not invest in it? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's entirely normal in every other country in Europe or the world for your national institutions to support your national interests, including your national security interests. So why is the Scottish National Investment Bank not doing that? I think that's mad.' Vanguard-class submarine HMS Vigilant, one of the UK's four nuclear warhead-carrying submarines, at HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane | PA Asked whether the SNP needs to revisit whether it opposes Trident, Mr McDonald warned opening up that debate 'would just be self-indulgent' and 'would just say the same thing it's always said'. He said: 'I think it could better focus its attention on other parts of the defence discussion. The reality is it can't move Trident off the Clyde. 'There are areas they can focus on and have genuine positive consequences - working with industry around development of skills. The defence industry really felt that after Brexit.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Labour Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney, who before entering politics was an arm reservist and Clyde shipbuilder, has branded the SNP's position "really frustrating'. 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There was a recent debate at the Scottish Parliament by the Greens on this stuff.' Mr Sweeney added: 'It's a misnomer to conflate foreign policy issues with domestic security and defence requirements. 'There is a logical absurdity of suggesting that this is about defence exports to unsavoury regimes, when it's primarily about our domestic national security and defence in the context of a pretty fraught geopolitical situation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I find the context of this somewhat delusional and frustrating. I think it's fair to say there's certainly a split within the SNP about this.' The MSP insisted that BAE Systems on the Clyde, where he previously worked, 'has no involvement with any regime suspected of human rights abuses', adding 'there's no association with the Israel-Palestine issue'. Protesters form a blockade outside BAE Systems in Govan Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire Mr Sweeney said: 'They do not issue vessels for export to those territories - they never have. There is no obvious connection. 'It's also deeply reckless rhetoric in the context of the need to expand the Royal Navy and expand our domestic shipbuilding programme.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Glasgow MSP warned the Scottish Government's opposition 'creates a problem for investment in Scotland that doesn't exist anywhere else in the UK'. He said: 'There's a nervousness about Scotland - there's a more volatile risk of being caught on the horns of a political argument.' Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Jamie Greene has penned a letter to the Deputy First Minister, Ms Forbes, insisting 'the Scottish Government must also play its part in realising that economic potential' of the defence sector. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes | PA He added: 'That means creating the right environment for jobs and investment as well as tackling obstacles that could otherwise dampen those opportunities. At the moment there are worrying gaps in Scotland's skills pipeline.' Norwegian potential Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad BAE Systems are building Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy including HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham in Govan. More investment could be on its way to the Govan shipyard, with the Norwegian government reportedly keen to purchase Type 26 frigates. Defence Secretary John Healey has told MPs he has 'been working hard to persuade the Norwegians' about taking on the frigates. In response to parliamentary questions, Ms Forbes, in an apparent acknowledgment of the benefits to the economy, has stressed the 'potential industrial and employment opportunities for Scotland are significant' if Norway does press ahead with Clyde-built frigates. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She said: 'Officials from the UK and Scottish governments have held constructive informal discussions around how the bid might be best supported.' A Scottish Government source suggested SNP ministers 'want to move on it', but are wrestling with how to 'manage it within the party'. The insider added: 'Some people find it exasperating and peculiar. It's just a bit out of place now in the new reality we are in.' When the Scottish Enterprise row emerged earlier this month, Mr Swinney told journalists he was sticking to his guns. He said: 'We have a policy position on the use of Scottish public expenditure for the manufacture of munitions. We apply that consistently and that remains the Government's position.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But speaking on the Holyrood Sources podcast this week, he opened the door to a change of heart, stating that 'issues can be reconsidered'.
