Povlsen follows ESRA donation with £100k support for young people
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Danish business tycoon Anders Holch Povlsen is providing support for young people by investing in the Prince's Trust and Young Enterprise Scotland.
News of of his latest donations comes hard on the heels of the announcement last week that he is meeting the £245,000 costs of a new lifeboat and ancillary equipment for East Sutherland Rescue Association (ESRA).
Through his company Wildland Ltd, Mr Polvsen, who owns estates in north Sutherland, has committed £40,000 to the Prince's Trust Achieve programme to expand its reach across the north east Highlands and Islands in the academic year ahead.
Achieve provides a vocational curriculum for pupils at risk of disengaging with their education at secondary level. Its emphasis is on practical skills and work experience, offering young people a valuable supplement to the mainstream syllabus.
A further £30,000 is being given to the Trust's Enterprise programme which works with aspiring business founders aged 18-30, providing two years' training and mentorship alongside access to resources to launch their business.
Wildland is in addition providing Young Enterprise Scotland with £30,000 to help it deliver a Circular Community Challenge project in Highland primary schools.
The challenge is designed to equip pupils with enterprise skills from team working to communication.
Primary schools will be supported to work together to develop their own circular business, either a product or service, which meets a need in their local community.
Wildland chief executive Tim Kirkwood said: "Covid-19 has take a toll among young people whose education has been disrupted and who are still facing significant barriers to finding employment.
"Many young people will need extra help if they are to feel part of Scotland’s recovery.
"That’s why this year Wildland has chosen to support the work of two nationally-recognised leaders in education support for children and young people. Our goal is to increase the range of opportunities for young people to build resilience and reach their full potential."
Dornoch inshore rescue volunteers left 'speechless' at tycoon's generous offer
