Provider: Sea Cadets
Sea Cadets is different from school. There's a lot of learning. But it's done through activities – on the water and off the water – and our volunteers… more
Provider: SQA
Our Cycling Awards equip learners with the skills to check, maintain and ride their cycles safely.Learners develop awareness of the main safety requirements… more
Provider: Boys’ Brigade in Scotland
The aim of the award is to recognise young people's achievements during their time in the BB, developing skills in leadership, communication, outdoor… more
Provider: Girlguiding Scotland
The Ranger gold award is a really special achievement. It gives you the opportunity to put everything you’ve learned through the Ranger programme into… more
Baqar, 16, from Glasgow, suddenly found himself two years ago transported from Iraq to Scotland, unable to speak any English.
Shy and reserved, Baqar struggled to integrate at school and found communication with his peers and engagement with the curriculum extremely difficult. Consequently, he had few friends and became increasingly isolated both in class and at break times.
Baqar joined The Prince’s Trust Achieve programme in school which offers students the chance to try industry taster days, giving them practical experience across different sectors to inspire their career choice. This gave Baqar the opportunity to build up communication and team working skills and to start thinking about what he wanted to do after he left school.
The programme focussed on personal development and at first, Baqar found it difficult to participate. However, a visit to a local technology business, Artronix transformed his progress. At Artronix, he was desperate to get started on the electronics challenge. Not only was he first to finish but he was able to help others in the team who were struggling.
It became clear that Baqar’s main barrier to educational success was his language skills so The Trust provided specialist tuition. Baqar really began to shine. He took part in the Achieve programme’s enterprise challenge and achieved the top score. At the regional final, he was able to give a presentation in front of a large audience.
He says, “Now I can speak to my friends and understand my lessons which I couldn’t do before I went to The Prince’s Trust.”
Read MoreSandy Begbie, Global Integration Director at Standard Life Aberdeen plc and Chair of DYW Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian, outlines why it is important for employers to recognise and value the employability skills developed through youth award programmes.
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