More Choices, More Chances

Applications to Scottish colleges have seen an unprecedented demand this year, due to a combination of factors such as the recession and job losses. In addition, more people are realising that to have the promise of a better future, they have to make a commitment to that future now, and the best way to achieve this is by expanding their knowledge, skills and qualifications through a college course. The other side of the coin however is the increasing number of those who are unable to secure a college place for the 2009-2010 session, either because their chosen course filled up quickly, or they did not have the appropriate entry qualifications. This can have a particularly detrimental effect on young people aged between 15 and 19 who have just left school and end up not in employment, education or training (the NEET group). This situation is prevalent throughout Fife, and in line with the Scottish Executive’s strategy, ‘More Choices, More Chances’, the three Fife colleges, Carnegie, Adam Smith and Elmwood, supported by Fife Council and other local organisations, are working together to raise awareness of other options that are available to these young people. For their part, Carnegie College has identified 295 15-19 years who recently applied for a college course but for whatever reason were not offered a place, and invited them along to Carnegie’s Halbeath campus to discuss these options. Assistant Head of School for Communities and Learner Development, Alison Gray, explained, “We really hope that many of these 295 young people will have found other training courses or even managed to get a job, but unfortunately statistics show that Scotland has one of the highest rates of unemployment for 15-19 year olds in the OECD* (Organisation for Economic Development) so we are aware that there will be large numbers of young people throughout Fife who are unsure what their next step should be if they were unable to secure a college place. Carnegie has decided to host an informal information event on Friday 18 September and invite along those young people who we identified from our student records. With partnership organisations such as Fife Council Development Services, BRAG, West Fife Enterprise, a selection of Voluntary groups and our own Learner Advice team in attendance, we will be offering information and advice on the various options open to those looking for training.” Alison continued, “College options include programmes such as Leaving Education Alternative Programme (LEAP), Get Ready for Work (GRfW) and Core Skills, delivered part-time and by flexible learning, plus training by other routes such as community learning, The Princes Trust and JobCentre Plus. We are positive that we can offer these young people alterative solutions and hope that they come along. As an added bonus, those who attend will have to chance to win an ipod Touch.” We are pleased to report that Corrie Riddell (pictured above) was offered a college place after this event, and is now studying Construction at Carnegie. Published : 16 September 2009