New Buckie project opens doors to ELC future
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Charity Action for Children Moray has been running the first of three six-week ELC courses from their local base in the town's refurbished Lady Cathcart Centre specifically designed to give a helping hand up the ladder to young people who may have previously experienced barriers to taking up education or training.
The first course, which began in January, is due to finish at the end of this week and for Action for Children children services manager Sheila Erskine it has opened doors for those who have taken part so far.
She said: "The project itself was launched back in November last year and we got the first of our three courses running in January.
"It's designed to be very flexible around the needs of the learners and has been going very well. We're looking at making a couple of changes for the next two courses, including the timings of the sessions as there were some difficulties with childcare, so we'll be offering morning and afternoon only courses alongside the current 10am-2pm time.
"The courses come very much from a grassroots demand, with childcare and lifelong learning issues highlighted under the Local Outcome Improvement Plan. What we've got here is designed to react to these needs and beyond.
"What we're offering is a mixture of practical and desk learning. It can be used as a taster for what's required to be a member of the ELC workforce and after leaving here a student can go on to do an SVQ2 – which entitles them to join a nursery workforce – and then on to do an SVQ 3.
"Another route is to go to college to do an SVQ 2 or to choose to work as a volunteer in a nursery to build up experience then go on to an SVQ."
Ms Erskine went on to highlight that the course can not only be used to open to doors to the many other career paths within the ELC world but also help students get back into the wider job market.
Overcoming barriers is one of the core aims of the course.
"There are lots of barriers people can face," Ms Erskine continued.
"Some people maybe don't have a positive experience of education, while others may be care experienced, have mental heath issues or be unemployed, there are lots of things which can stand in someone's way.
"The course is aimed at young people aged 16-24 – 26 for the care experienced – but we're also happy to welcome people from outside that age range depending on their circumstances. For example, it could apply to parents who have had children in ELC but they have now moved on to school and they are better placed to pursue a course like this."
The next Futures course is due to run from Monday, March 16-Friday, April 24, the final one taking place over Monday, May 11-Friday, June 19.
For more information on the AB56 Futures programme, contact Action for Children on (01542) 832865 or email AB56@actionforchildren.org.uk
Those who are unemployed and/or on benefits can also speak to their DWP work coach.
