Careers support helped Cloe overcome challenges to build a positive future
Young Scot Cloe Maxwell has turned her life around, thanks to years of dedicated support from a local careers adviser.
Positive intervention
Two years ago, Skills Development Scotland work coach and careers adviser, Emma Fairley met Cloe as a struggling pupil at Earlston High School in the Scottish Borders.
The teen, who has Additional Support Needs, was on the brink of leaving school at 15 without a positive future before Emma stepped in.
Today, 17 year old Cloe has a new life at college and is set on a path towards her dream career in fashion.
Like many of the young people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cloe spent time away from school in an isolated environment, so returning to study was difficult for her.
Cloe’s situation was more challenging, as someone with severe autism who was also in the process of transitioning.
Long term support plan
Emma is one of the hundreds of Scotland’s careers advisers working in every school in Scotland. When she met with Cloe as a pupil to understand her challenges and ambitions, she started contacting local partners to put support in place.
Emma spoke with the school to organise for Cloe to continue attending, while arrangements were made to prepare the youngster to get employment support from the No-one Left Behind scheme when term ended.
After school, Emma continued to have regular catch ups with Cloe and her mum, Lisa, to develop a long term plan for helping her onto learning and a career.
Emma worked around her customer’s needs, with the local garden centre a more comfortable place for Cloe to meet initially, before chats at the SDS Galashiels centre.
Emma explained SDS support in the area. She said: “Where we are in the Borders is very rural, so we work hard with young people to help them with opportunities. We create ongoing relationships, to work intensively with them to get them into a positive destination. It’s really important to build a trusted relationship with our young customers.
“It’s also important to recognise the importance of parents having a link to the adviser as part of the support, to help them and their young person navigate next steps and make decisions.”
Emma added: “When I first met Cloe at school, she wouldn’t look at anyone and there was no communication at all. Gradually, over the last two years, she has come out of her shell and I can see that she is a very funny and sassy young person. Cloe has gone from being terrified of everything to being a more confident young person."
Building confidence
After spending time building up Cloe’s confidence, Emma helped Cloe to successfully apply for a taster course at Borders College, where she is gaining more skills and gaining new friends.
Emma explained: “I was keen that Cloe started down a college route to get her used to an environment that she was comfortable learning in.
“She is trying various different courses offered at the college, which is also building her confidence.”
Cloe lives in Ancrum near Jedburgh, and her mum has been driving her to college while she takes driving lessons.
Cloe’s mum Lisa said: “Emma has gone above and beyond in her support for Cloe. Nothing has been too much trouble. I’m also dyslexic, so Emma dealt with all the forms to put in place support for Cloe.”
Lisa told Emma that, recently, she caught sight of her daughter with college friends in the street and she looked like a different person.
New beginning
Cloe said: “College was a new place, so I was nervous to go, but I’m happy to have gone, as it has been a fresh start.
“I’m getting to try cooking, health and wellbeing and outdoors activities. I’m coming back to see Emma about other courses when this course finishes in June.”
Emma is now helping Cloe prepare for her next steps when her course ends.
Emma said: “Cloe’s ambition is to start a career in the fashion industry. The area has a local textiles industry with many knitwear companies so, looking ahead, we can aim for work experience there, but it will be a gradual process. In the long term, my hope is that we can find an apprenticeship for Cloe.”
Cloe added: “I’m interested in fashion and learning to make clothes. I’ve just always loved colour and textures of fabrics.”
Meeting additional needs
Cloe’s circumstance is similar to many young people across the country, who can all access the free support provided by an SDS careers adviser at school or in a local SDS centre.
Emma explained: “We are helping more young people with Additional Support Needs. The job now involves having to advocate for a young person, to be their voice and do the job of approaching other people and services to get further information and support.
“A lot of young people engage with us because we aren’t seen as an authority figure. Young people repeatedly come back to us and it’s lovely to get visits from people who are looking for more support.”
Thinking about her work with Cloe, Emma said: “I’m really proud of Cloe and delighted that she has continued to get my support. Sometimes it’s a challenge for a young person to put their trust in someone else.”
Thinking about her own progress, Cloe said: “Since getting the support from Emma and starting college, I feel like I’ve come out of my shell more. It’s made me feel more confident and more independent.”
SDS delivers career information, advice and guidance services in schools, in SDS centres and in community venues across Scotland, through its freephone helpline 0800 917 8000, and online at My World of Work.