Netherthird’s Skills and Learning 66 (SL66) has been officially opened by Councillor Shona Morrison, President of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) at a special celebration event.
SL66 is the latest project from the innovative team behind SL33 in Kilmarnock. Responding to identified need in the community of Netherthird, the SL66 hub team works with school senior leaders, pupil support colleagues, employers and a range of Council services and local training providers to improve essential work skills of young people still at school and unemployed young people. This includes work place learning activity, communications skills, encouraging creativity, innovation, enterprise and working effectively as a team.
By working with local employers, the team are helping to develop meaningful interactions with our young people through work tasters, work placements, mentoring and meet the employer sessions. They are also supporting employers to work with schools to inform the design and delivery of the careers and employability curriculum.
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council was joined at the official opening by Councillors Elaine Cowan, Jim McMahon, Maureen McKay, Neill Watts and June Kyle; Chief Executive Eddie Fraser and Chief Education Officer Linda McAulay-Griffiths. He welcomed COSLA President, Cllr Shona Morrison, COSLA Vice President, Cllr Stephen Heddle and Chief Executive, Jane O'Donnell to SL66 and said:
“The former Netherthird library has been completely transformed into Skills and Learning 66 (SL66) an employment hub for disengaged young people. The local community had been regenerated by the new school, the community asset transfer of the community centre and the community garden; our building, the former library, was frankly letting the area down.
“We listened to our community and they let us know what they needed, it was then a case of getting funding in place to make the plans a reality. With funding from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund, generous support from local companies, including McConnells, and colleagues working together from across the Council; the dream of having somewhere where the young people could feel that they belonged and feel loved, fell into place. Well, when I say fell into place, it took serious graft from the team and from the project lead Margorie Harvie who is one of the most determined people that you will ever meet.
“I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved and hope that SL33 and SL66 will become a model for the rest of Scotland. Its strength lies in the partnership approach it takes, with targeted training provision coordinated through the East Ayrshire Local Employability Partnership, the hub team will ensure positive routes to engagement for local young people and parents and carers, while also supporting employers to develop and offer work experience, apprenticeships and job opportunities.
“The facts speak for themselves – East Ayrshire is now in the top ten in Scotland for young people achieving positive destinations and when you consider we are also within the ten most deprived areas, it shows that we are changing lives.”
Councillor Reid invited Councillor Morrison to cut a ribbon and unveil the plaque that was designed by Keira McCrindle from SL66 and the Council’s former Graphic Design intern, Rachel Wherry.
COSLA President, Councillor Shona Morrison said:
“I was delighted to be invited to the opening of the SL66 Skills and Learning Hub in Netherthird today alongside the COSLA Vice President and Chief Executive. We received an extremely warm welcome from East Ayrshire Council and from the community, who clearly care deeply about making their local area the best it can be for everyone who lives there. This project is a wonderful example of exactly what local government does best – transforming services, spaces and places in a way which demonstrates their understanding of the area’s unique needs and circumstances, to provide the best and most impactful service to the people who live there now and for the future. Councillors and officers across the country want to proactively create the right environment for people to thrive and I am sure that SL66 will bring great joy and fulfilment to the people in this community.”
At the official opening the invited guests heard from three inspiring young people – Jake, Skye and Rachel – who spoke about their journey with SL33 and SL66. Jake spoke about his experience with the summer programme where he learned new skills and revealed that thanks to their support and guidance, is now studying joinery at college; Skye started with the team in S4 and is now at college studying childcare. She spoke about how much the team care about her and encourage her to be the best she can be. While Rachel spoke about being a single parent and the amazing support from the team, who have helped her increase her confidence, got her into training and now employment at Crosshouse hospital. Each story was very moving and inspiring, bringing to life the vital support provided by the team to the young people who attend the hubs.
Following the official opening the team from COSLA visited Netherthird Primary and Early Childhood Centre, Netherthird Community Garden and Netherthird Community Centre to learn more about the partnership working taking place within the community.