Former Scottish Secretary launches charity for people living in Arden
Jim Murphy aims to break down financial barriers and create new opportunities for working-class youth
Former Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy is launching a new charity to help young people from Glasgow’s Arden access life-changing opportunities.
Murphy, who grew up in a housing estate in Arden, aims to break down the financial barriers that often hold back working-class youth, ensuring they have the same chances as those from more affluent areas.
The charity, called NextGenArden, will provide grants for a wide range of needs, from driving lessons to interview clothes, helping young people take crucial steps toward employment, education, and independence.
The former Labour politician hopes the initiative will give young people in Arden the tools and confidence to build brighter futures.
Speaking about the project, he told Clyde 1 News: “I got lucky, I got the chance to go to university and be in the Cabinet with Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.
"There's lots of disadvantage in the area.
"I just want other people to have that sort of break in life - whether it's giving them training, money to help with the cost of college, university, or starting a new job, and even things like driving lessons.
"We don't want the money back, and we don't want thanks.
"We just want the charity to help people in that little corner of Glasgow to transform their lives and live their dreams."
Arden, like many housing estates, has long struggled with high unemployment and limited opportunities for young people.
Murphy’s initiative aims to change that by offering practical support that can make a real difference in their lives.
The charity’s launch has already sparked interest, with community leaders praising the initiative as a much-needed step toward tackling inequality.
Murphy hopes his project will inspire others to invest in young people from working-class backgrounds and create a future where no one is held back by their postcode.