POLICE Scotland Youth Volunteers in Clydebank and Dumbarton continued working on their own mental health project, despite the country being in lockdown.

At the start of the year, the youngsters came up with a plan to donate a number of benches to secondary schools within the local authority with “who to contact” information.

After being provided a cash boost by West Dunbartonshire Council’s Year of the Young People fund, the team wanted to give something back to their communities.

PC Dale Logsdon, the PSYV coordinator, told the Post: “Most of our young persons attend at the local secondary schools and they stated that it would be neat to have somewhere to sit and talk if they were feeling down.

“Given that the schools are always keen to support their pupils through positive mental health initiatives, this project would have been a great way to assist the schools and their fellow classmates.”

When the country was put into lockdown, the project came to a halt, but it did not stop the dedicated team from getting to work.

Read more: Family and community help mark Helen's 80th birthday

PC Logsdon added: “The groups were devastated when the pandemic hit as it halted a lot of worthy projects which were about to kick off in 2020.

“But, they got together online and ran a competition to design a banner for the benches, signposting the appropriate services via web, text or phone.

“Some of the volunteers also worked in their own time and within their own homes to get a bench painted and ready for donating to the first secondary school.

“It was crucial that we got one bench completed before the schools returned, given the expected concerns regarding the pupils returning to safe environments and their mental health.

“It was very challenging given that we could not meet and that our support was not available to assist.”

The team said they were proud to have one bench complete, which has been donated to Clydebank High School, and are keen to finish the others to go to area secondaries.

They thanked both Mick and the volunteers at Mens Shed Clydebank along with staff at B&Q for their assistance and support.