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As part of the Scottish Enterprise Business Birthrate Strategy, Groundbase has funded a Youth Enterprise Project at Whithorn in the Machars area of Dumfries and Galloway. Iain Scott of the Robert Owen Foundation was contracted to start work with members of the Machars Youth Strategy Group in January 1997. The group had previously attempted (without success) to organise a youth conference. They had a strong desire to do something, but the missing link was how to harness an enterprise dimension to achieve their social ambition.

With encouragement from Iain, the group were able to analyse the skills amongst them and focus on the social issues, whilst very much retaining ownership of the project.

It was soon apparent that there was a business opportunity for events and event management within Dumfries and Galloway. By using existing skills and learning new ones along the way, the group developed as "Machars Events Unlimited". They set themselves the task of organising an event for young people, to be held in June 1997 in nearby Newton Stewart.

The 'fun day' was a success and was well attended. The group have now descended from cloud nine and are busy working on plans to develop other enterprise opportunities in the area.