A FUND for community groups and charities has got 2013 off to a flying start with a donation of £4900 to help young unemployed.

The Glasgow Airport FlightPath Fund, set up in 2010, has already distributed more than £400,000 to around 150 groups based in council areas – Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East and West Dunbartonshire – on its flight path.

It has cross party support, including from Glasgow Anniesland SNP MSP Bill Kidd, who is encouraging groups in his constituency to apply for cash.

The latest organisation to benefit is an initiative which tries to guide the jobless into paid work via the voluntary sector.

The cash is being used by ProjectScotland to place seven people aged between 18 and 30 into full-time volunteering roles with a charity or social enterprise.

Organisers say that placements will last several months, could end up being pathways into employment and could trigger more than 5000 extra hours of volunteering.

Each volunteer will also get a mentor, with Glasgow Airport's head of procurement Maureen Jamieson having just signed up for such a role.

Maureen said: "One of the reasons for establishing the FlightPath Fund was to tackle social issues such as youth unemployment so we are very excited about being able to help ProjectScotland break down barriers for these young people.

"These volunteering projects are beneficial on several levels – they help the individual and the organisation they are placed with, as well as the community in which that organisation operates.

"That represents tremendous value and ProjectScotland has an excellent track record of success in turning placements into full-time employment."

ProjectScotland's finance director Rucelle Soutar said: "Glasgow Airport's support will open doors for seven young people and ultimately allow them to take control of their own lives and improve their future prospects."

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk