Thomas's Story

Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Employability and Skills Team and Youth Services have collaborated to create 8 full time posts within the youthwork service, funded by Kickstart and the Young Person’s Guarantee.  

Focussing in areas where there is high youth unemployment, successful applicants work alongside experienced youth workers to support the delivery of local Youth Work services based in Stranraer, Newton Stewart, Dalbeattie, Castle Douglas, Dumfries, Sanquhar, Lockerbie and Annan.  

In addition to developing hands on skills and experience, young people are supported by a designated Employability Key Worker to enable them to complete the SQA Workplace Skills Award and the SQA PDA in Youth Work (a minimum requirement for Youth Workers). Young people will complete an extensive programme of training including First Aid, Food Hygiene, Sexual Health, Child Protection, LGBTQ Awareness. All of this will provide these eight young people with a robust portfolio and place them in a very strong position in future Youth Work sector job markets.  

 “Being an individual who’s not academic I completed my PDA in youth work whilst completing a modern apprenticeship. Whilst studying for my PDA I was offered a great deal of support from my colleagues to help me gain the qualification I now have today. After my modern apprenticeship I moved on to further employment within the youth work department in the council. Having this qualification put me in a good place when it came to applying for my job as it showed that I have an understanding in working with young people and was committed to learning new skills for the workplace...” Thomas (23)

 “The job placements created within our Councils youth work service will be a vital pathway for young people who are looking to start their career working with young people. Without this programme we would not have had the opportunity to have a trainee programme that runs from Stranraer to Langholm covering all communities across Dumfries and Galloway. By taking this approach we are ensuring that we are giving opportunities to young people across the region and we are maximising the impact that the programme will have on young people.  This has only been possible through the collaborative partnership between the youth work and employability and skills services"  Mark Molloy – Service Manager – Young People  

• The Young Person’s Guarantee is a shared commitment to provide opportunities for 16-24 year olds through jobs, apprenticeships, further and higher education, training programmes and volunteering