North Ayrshire Council’s Corporate Parenting team are inviting care experienced people of all ages, their extended family members, and other corporate parents to an upcoming employability and skills event.
The first of its kind, the action-packed event will take place on Wednesday 23 April from 10am until midday, at the Volunteer Rooms in Irvine.
The event will be set up as a stall format with local partners attending to share information, resources, freebies, taster activities, course sign-ups, feedback opportunities, advocacy, welfare rights, and much more.
It is part of the council’s wider Corporate Parenting Strategy to meet its statutory duties to keep The Promise to Scotland’s care experienced community – in this case those living and studying in North Ayrshire.
‘Care Experienced’ is a now widely used term to describe any person who has experience of being in care, regardless of the placement length, type or age.
Care may have been provided in one of many different settings, such as residential care, foster care, kinship care or through being looked after at home with a supervision requirement.
The support provided at the event also demonstrates our commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – legally binding international legislation that sets out the rights of children and how we can uphold, safeguard and respect them.
Jenny Lewis, Corporate Parenting Engagement and Participation Lead shares: “We are excited to be hosting the upcoming employability and skills event to support care experienced young people and adults who are looking to gain confidence and develop new skills.
“This is a brilliant opportunity to learn about our community, employability and corporate parenting partners. Those attending can get advice, tips on applying for local training courses and also access signposting to support and entitlements available.
“As Corporate Parents, North Ayrshire Council is committed to ensuring that everyone who is care experienced feels safe, nurtured and supported.
“We will continue to work closely with partner agencies, staff, carers and the care experienced community to ensure infants, children and young people across North Ayrshire have the extra support, love, time and positive relationships they need to help them fully realise their potential.”
#KeepingThePromise
The event will also mark the half way point since Scotland made The Promise to care experience children and young people following Scotland’s Independent Care Review.
Part of the Council’s Connected Communities team, organiser’s, the Corporate Parenting team are responsible for the delivering and reporting upon how the council is keeping The Promise via our Corporate Parenting Plan 2023-2026.
Save the date and stay tuned to our socia media channels for further updates:
- @NorthAyrshireCorporateParenting on Facebook
- and @OneVoiceNA on X
If you have any questions about the event or your role/statutory duties in relation to corporate parenting, please email: jennylewis@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
🌟 Confirmed stall holders 🌟 attending the upcoming event are:
- Ancho/Kando – with information on support for young people aged between 14-19 who are not currently in school, college or employment. This includes cognitive behaviour therapy, volunteering opportunities and learning practical skills
- Ayrshire College – with information on courses and training in further education
- Ayrshire Independent Living Network – raising awareness of their services to help increase understanding of the self-directed support available locally
- Barnardo’s – providing support to children and young people so that they can feel safe, overcome barriers and realise their potential
- CEIS Ayrshire – job-seeking services including CV support and interview coaching
- Community Housing Advocacy Project (CHAP) – with Multiply support to help empower individuals and families by improving their numeracy, budgeting, and financial literacy skills
- Community ESOL team – helping ‘English Speakers of other languages’ to develop their language skills, meet new friends in their community and overcome barriers
- Developing the Young Workforce – the team leading a Scottish Government strategy with an aim of helping young people into employment
- Equal supported employment – offering a wide range of tailored support to get people back into work, start work for the first time or take a step up the career ladder (part of the council’s Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire employability programme)
- Locality teams – part of the council’s Community Learning and Development team, with info on community groups, support and volunteering opportunities available in your area
- Money Matters team – welfare rights advisors from North Ayrshire Council offering benefits and entitlements advice/support
- MCR Pathways – with information on how to become a mentor for young people and how to access mentoring in secondary schools
- North Ayrshire Active Schools – providing opportunities for young people to participate in physical activity and sports
- North Ayrshire Corporate Parenting team – hosting the event and sharing the council’s progress as corporate parents to #KeepThePromise to care experienced young people
- Other corporate parents – including community reps from KA:Leisure, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire & Rescue Service
- Skills Development Scotland – offering tailored skills advice and information on their extensive network of Scottish employers
- The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT) – with information on the voluntary sector and current community action projects and programmes that are making a difference locally
- Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire – North Ayrshire Council’s employability service with representatives from our Modern Apprenticeships team and Youth Services team
- Local employers – including Accountant in Bankruptcy and local hairdresser Haus Of Seisay.
More info on the employability event can be found online.