The Aberdeen business community is once again disproving the city's reputation for penny-pinching by coming to the rescue of the area's young volunteers.

Since the Scottish Government decided to drastically reduce its funding to ProjectScotland - the national agency that pairs young people with voluntary groups in their own communities - the organisation has had to work harder than ever to secure financial backing.

It has now launched a new fundraising programme, called Catalyst for Change. It is asking 50 businesses to support 50 local volunteers.

Participating companies will be asked to pledge about £3,000 to pay for a young person's training and costs on a six-month placement.

The firms will be kept updated on how their support is changing their trainee's life and the community around them.

Several Aberdeen businesses have already signed up. They include Weatherford, KCA Deutag and oil and gas academy Opito.

The news that government funding would be cut from £6.5million to £1.4million in the next financial year and cease in March 2009 was a major blow to ProjectScotland, which has won praise for its work since it was set up in 2004.

For more information, visit www.projectscotland.co.uk

To become one of ProjectScotland's Catalysts for Change click here.