Career Review in action: joined up services supporting young people
A new short film produced as part of the Career Review showcases the power of joined up personalised services supporting young people.
Published earlier this year, the independent Career Review made a series of powerful recommendations that are shaping the future of Scotland’s career services.
Now being taken forward into implementation planning, the review will report to Ministers later this year with further detail on how these services should be delivered.
The latest in a series of films designed to showcase some of the principles of the career review in action, explains how joined up services in East Ayrshire helped youth worker Mark Keeley turned his life around and found a creative, positive career helping future generations of young people in his community.
An ongoing struggle with severe dyslexia meant Mark didn’t enjoy or engage with school and he left with few qualifications. After realising that college wasn’t for him, Mark joined an activity agreement through East Ayrshire Council.
Through this process Mark undertook training with Street League, where a passion for photography saw him produce content that was used within their social media channels.
This experience ignited a flame in Mark, who saw the potential of using his creativity to engage young people.
So when the opportunity came up for a Modern Apprentice youth worker with East Ayrshire Council, Mark jumped at the chance.
He was successful and the on-the-job learning style of an apprenticeship really suited him as it was very different to his experience in school.
SDS Team Leader Vincent Logue explains that joined up local services have been key to supporting Mark into such a positive destination.
“SDS has been with Mark right throughout his journey, giving career advice and guidance and developing his career management skills”
“SDS is one of a number of local organisations supporting young people in East Ayrshire with a common goal of ensuring they move onto a positive destination.
“We work with the local authority and a wide range of other partners, sharing resources and good practice. Everyone is confident with each other and trusts each other and key to that is that it’s the young person who benefits.”
Mark now works with closely at SL33 in Kilmarnock with the very people who supported him throughout his own journey and says:
“It’s changed my life for the better. Now I know I’ve got a career path that I want to aim to. I love working with young people and being an inspiration to them really helps. Being part of someone’s journey is just an amazing feeling.”
Margorie Harvie, Opportunities for All Education Officer at East Ayrshire Council adds: “SL33 brings all partners together to make the opportunities and destinations for young people in East Ayrshire more accessible.
“Communication is the biggest thing for a young person’s journey and we always say for every journey, we need at least ten people involved to make it happen. That’s why having SDS at the beginning of that journey and seeing it through to the end with us is a dream come true.”
To find out more about the career review visit www.CareerReview.scot