D&G service funded by proceeds of crime helps youths stay away from trouble
Alternative Routes helps people who have issues with family, at school, or socially.
Last updated 31st Jul 2025
A programme funded by money seized from criminals has helped keep 8 in 10 young people in Dumfries and Galloway away from anti-social behaviour.
Aberlour Children's charity has supported 330 locals to navigate their way through troubles at school, with their family, or socially.
The Alternative Routes service has been running for the last three years, helping people aged between 10 and 25 address any underlying causes, for example, difficult relationships with families or drug and alcohol addictions.
It also has family support hubs based at Dumfries, Annan, and Stranraer.
The majority of its users have been boys aged between 10 and 15.
Some have complex social and emotional needs, and others are neurodivergent or waiting for medical assessments.
Many have already experienced the criminal justice system.
Chief Officer Lynne O’Brien explains the data collected from the charity:
“Young people have felt mentally stronger, that they are less likely to get involved in anti-social behaviour.
“80% reported they were less likely to get into trouble, which is really good, and 80% also reported that they now have a better relationship with teachers and their school, and were attending more regularly.
“We help lots of young people move from being in trouble or having some distressed behaviour, things going wrong in their lives, and it’s really helped people find their passion. It has also helped young people get back into school or gain work experience.
“The funding for that service is through the proceeds of crime, which is redirected into a fund through the Scottish Government and #CashBack for Communities, so it’s a really great example of something that can be done with that funding.”
An anonymous case study given by the charity reveals that one user was using cannabis regularly and was at risk of dropping out of school before getting help with Alternative Routes.
Staff were able to help him lower his drug usage and get back into a better routine with school through one-to-one support, after almost missing an entire year.
Once he moved to another school and was offered additional tuition to help him catch up on what he had missed, he began to revise at home for the first time and is now looking to go off to college.
According to Aberlour, the support he received seemed to have a ripple effect as it also encouraged his girlfriend to get her life back on track.
“The positive impact of that help and support has extended further with his girlfriend, who had also been out of education due to challenges at school, finding a work placement in a café. She says Jonathan’s progress made her want to try again.”