AN ALLOA youth charity looking to reduce social isolation is set to become an even more integral part of the community thanks to funding.

Connect Alloa has been awarded funding to appoint a project leader to help the good cause grow and engage with more young people in the area.

Clacks man Dave Crozier, who launched the initiative last year, will take up the post after the National Lottery's Awards for All programme confirmed funding for a year.

The money is being match funded by the Robertson Trust with thanks going to both organisations for the support.

Dave told the Advertiser the funding means he will be able to dedicate more time to Connect Alloa with much work to be done behind the scenes.

He said: "I can delegate some more things to the volunteers, but also dedicate more time to the volunteers as well.

"The more I encourage them to do certain activities and grow, learn, evolve and get more experience then the more they can help the group as well.

"That's something I've not had time for or if I have, it's been very much on the fly.

"So it will enable me to invest in the volunteers as well."

Currently, Connect Alloa runs two youth nights a week – which have gone digital during the coronavirus lockdown – but there is the potential to start a third night as well.

The funding will strengthen the team and there are hopes to engage with the community even more as a result.

In terms of work in the background, there will no doubt be guidelines to follow and policies to draft up if regular meetings are to go ahead again and Dave will be enabled to dedicate more time to that thanks to the funding.

He will be working on the project 25 hours a week, starting today, Wednesday July 1.

As previously highlighted, Connect Alloa adapted quickly to the lockdown with the group moving online in a bid to support young people's health and wellbeing while providing some fun activities to look forward to.

Confirmation of the funding is also being highlighted at Scottish Parliament after MSP Keith Brown lodged a motion to congratulate Connect Alloa.

Part of the motion sought to highlight that "Connect Alloa has managed to make incredible progress up to this point, despite having limited resources, thanks to its resilience and 'make do' attitude".