SINGAPORE – A new youth space in the heart of town is aiming to support more than 3,000 disadvantaged young people over the next three years, and give them a leg-up in their career.

Located in the revamped *Scape in Orchard Road, The Trampoline will be home to mentoring programmes for young people, and act as a place for them to network, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo on July 4.

The space is a partnership between *Scape and local social mobility charity Access Singapore, and is part of broader efforts to develop the Somerset Belt as a vibrant youth precinct, he said, speaking at a launch event of the space.

“Going forward, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) wants to create more spaces and empower youths... to take the lead and make a difference,” Mr Neo said.

In line with this, *Scape will introduce a new grant to give funding support of up to $1,000 to young people who run projects around the Somerset Belt that do good for the community, he added.

The fund, called Grant for Good, will launch on Aug 1, and will support 60 projects over the next year. More information will be shared closer to the launch date.

Like the young people of the past, those today will have to overcome challenges and take Singapore forward, said Mr Neo.

“A key priority for me as acting minister, therefore, is enabling our youth to have the conviction and confidence to pursue their diverse aspirations,” he said, adding that MCCY and the National Youth Council (NYC), together with partners, are working to develop a five-year action plan.

This is “to empower youth to develop to the fullest of their potential and to achieve their aspirations”, Mr Neo said, adding that over 6,300 young people have been engaged on this plan.

“I think this generation of youth inspires us in their own ways,” he said. “Not least, in terms of challenging us to redefine success to be broader.”