West College Scotland are delighted to again be working in partnership with Renfrewshire Council and Glasgow Homelessness Network on our Keys to Learn programme. Launching for the second time, the project is aimed giving adult returners the self-confidence, communication and leadership skills to achieve the ultimate aim of moving to a positive destination in either Further Education, Volunteering and Employment.
The 8-week programme has been based at our Paisley Campus and culminated in a celebration event this week in our Abercorn Conference Centre on Wednesday 27th March. Martin Timoney, Curriculum Quality Leader, Essential Skills at WCS said, “This high impact behaviour modification programme provided fast-paced and focused mindset challenges offering students the opportunity to develop deep personal bonds and to enable participants to gain a diverse perspective by engaging them in leadership reflection and activity”.
The programme is part of a pilot project called Just Learning: Skills for Employment which shares the wider aim of supporting people with historical and current convictions into a positive destination by providing them with employability skills.
Fraser McKinlay, Economic Development Officer at Renfrewshire Council said of the project,
“The Keys to Learn programme, has taught the students how to become more confident, take control of their decisions and also opened their minds to entering into further education as well as employment.”
He continued,
“The tutors and staff at WCS have been extremely supportive and have also introduced a Leadership qualification to the current group that has a huge impact on their confidence and self-esteem. “
Glasgow Homelessness Network (GHN) has coordinated the Keys to Learn Tenancy Sustainment project for 10 years in Glasgow and across the West of Scotland. Pauline McColgan said,
“Last year, we were lucky to be strike up a partnership with Renfrewshire Council, Invest in Renfrewshire, and West College Scotland, who together aimed to build the life and employability skills of people affected by homelessness and having experience of the criminal justice system.”
She spoke of the success of the programme saying,
“This partnership has shown what local organisations understanding the needs of local people can do. From providing work tasters, to building the self-confidence and motivation of participants, WCS tutors have enabled around 20 people move on positively with their lives, with hope for the future.”
Since the launch of the first programme in September 2018 there have been 24 students successfully completing the Keys to Learn course, with the support of the partnership between WCS, GHN and Renfrewshire Council demonstrating a positive impact in all involved.
The impact of the course has been truly significant for the people involved. David Loughlin, 33 from Paisley said,
“I can’t recommend or speak highly enough of this course. Truly life changing and transformational”
He explained the impact on his life saying, “I went on this course an Alcoholic with low self-esteem and poor mental health to a recovering Alcoholic with a job and being accepted to start a Full time HNC course in August. Trust me I never thought the course would do anything for me, I had been unstable for years & just thought that was the way my life was destined to be, but this course taught me how to change my mindset as well as others. I also learned that any behaviour patterns I have learned can be unlearned. Honestly couldn’t recommend this enough remember success only comes from failure & perfection is a myth!”.
Head of Essential Skill & Enabling Services, Grant Taylor said,
“West College Scotland are delighted to be involved in this innovative project supporting the local community. The students showed hard work and dedication throughout and we wish them all the best for the future”.
Picture – L-R: Fraser McKinlay, Willie McBride, Martin Timoney, Martin Young, James Dawson, Paul Morning, David Loughlin, Jeremy Wylie, Alexander Crossan, Leanna Sweeney, Kelly McQuarrie - Glasgow Homelessness Network, Grant, Dean Pattison – Lecturer, West College Scotland