Work Aware – Community Hub

School: Smithycroft Secondary School

Date of Activity: 03/09/2024

Type of Activity: Work inspiration and preparation

Name of Activity/Project: Fit for Future/Work Aware Community Hub

Name of Employer: Bluevale Community

Industry Sector: Public Sector/Sports and Fitness

Target Audience:

This programme is designed to support S3 pupils who are at risk of disengaging from school. Including this as an alternative provision within their timetable highlights its focus on addressing their specific needs and supporting their continued engagement in education.

Partners/Stakeholders:

Bluevale, FARE Scotland, Inspiring Scotland, Glasgow City Council and DYW Glasgow

Case Study

Pastoral care, the school DYW team, and the DYW Coordinator met to discuss 10 pupils who would be a great fit for this programme. The team selected the 10 pupils most at risk of disengaging from school and those who are vulnerable. They arranged a visit to the Reidvale Community Centre for the selected pupils, allowing them to meet their peers from other schools and the staff from Bluevale they’d be working with. This helped ease them into the programme by providing more information about their involvement and the people they would be working with.

The pupils were split into groups across 3 days of the week. There is also a female only group on a Thursday which is led by a female member of staff. Young people are also encouraged to contribute their own ideas to the project and spend the first week creating a personalised timetable based on the activities they’d like to participate in.

Young people will engage in some sport-based and outdoor activities which aim to improve their physical, mental health and wellbeing. The aim is to also equip young people with a stronger sense of self-belief, to be able to cope with stressful situations, deal with difficult emotions, and engage with learning.

There is also an opportunity for employers to visit the hub, providing young people with easy access to connect with them.

This project will run from September 2024 to June 2025.

Objectives

• Personal development for young people
• Gaining insight into the world of work, engaging with employers, partners and organisations
• Gain credit-rated qualifications
• Engage with learning

Results/Outcome

The project is still ongoing. An ideal outcome would be for young people to really benefit from the programme, engage in learning again and improve their personal skills and qualities, and increase their confidence/self-belief.

Benefits

• Alternative provision
• Mixing with other schools
• Gaining accredited qualifications
• Engaging in learning
• Engaging with employers
• An insight into the world of work
• Gaining/improving skills and qualities

Testimonials

“I really enjoy going to Bluevale”
“This is so much better than school”
“I learn better like this”
“The guys (staff) at Bluevale are great”