Scottish charity set to fly high with donation from Glasgow Airport FlightPath Fund
11 January 2012
Glasgow Airport’s FlightPath Fund, a community funding programme committed to supporting local projects, is providing much needed funding to The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) a charity helping young people to start up and continue in business.
Since January 2011, Glasgow Airport’s FlightPath Fund has donated over £170,000 to over 60 local charities and community groups in the Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire and Glasgow area, carefully focusing on education, environment and sport
Handing over a cheque for £5,000 to Brenda Rankin, PSYBT Trusts Fundraiser, Ronald Leitch, security operations manager at Glasgow Airport, said “As a local employer, Glasgow Airport is fully committed to supporting projects in the community and is delighted to offer support to such a worthwhile cause.
“PSYBT does a fantastic job teaching young people valuable life skills that will benefit the youngsters in their personal and working lives. I wish the charity every success for the future.”
PSYBT, a charity that has been operating for more than 20 years helps young people aged 18-25 years old into self-employment. Often these young people have been unable to raise the capital themselves or have faced challenges in life. Patrick McDonald of Superior Catering and Leisure was helped by the Trust.
Keen to run his own mobile catering van, Patrick approached lenders to secure finance but struggled to get the help he needed. Many financial institutions felt Patrick’s dreams of self-employment were unrealistic and too risky for someone so young. However, with funding and a business mentor from PSYBT, Patrick’s business was soon up and running. It’s now two years on and Superior Catering and Leisure has grown significantly. The business now caters for sought after events such as the Glasgow Mela and the Inverclyde tall Ship. More recently the business won The PSYBT Business Awards and Patrick was crowned, “Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011”.
Brenda Rankin said “Young people like Patrick McDonald are a true inspiration to others thinking of self-employment, especially considering the current economic climate. Taking the leap into self-employment is no mean feat but with support from foundations such as the Glasgow Flightpath Fund, PSYBT can help more young people to realise their dreams of self-employment. PSYBT is hugely grateful for this kind donation.”
ENDS
For media information please contact:
Louise Moore, PSYBT Marketing Manager
t. 0141 248 4999 e: louise.moore@psybt.org.uk
Alternatively please contact Brenda Rankin
Tel no. 0141 248 4999 or visit the PSYBT website at www.psybt.org.uk
Notes to editors
PSYBT was launched in January 1989 and is a national organisation with offices in 18 Regions across Scotland. To date over 12,500 businesses involving over 12,000 proprietors have been assisted with £36.4m awarded - £32.5m in loans and £3.9m in grants.
