Kilmarnock-based employability charity has seen impressive results with pilot project
A new partnership is to support up to 40 disengaged pupils across East Ayrshire into further education and apprenticeships.
WorkingRite, has teamed up with the company Webhelp and the Think Human Foundation, to get these young people into jobs, apprenticeships or vocational college courses when they leave school.
The Kilmarnock-based employability charity has been testing this model (called Rite to Work) across East Ayrshire schools for the last two years with impressive results.
More than 80% (41 young people) have so far achieved a start on a working career of their choice. Most came to Rite to Work with a history of poor school attendance, disengagement from lessons, and little confidence in their futures.
It says what they achieved by the end of the programme greatly exceeded their expectations.
Webhelp and Think Human Foundation will support the project through a grant, as well as additional fundraising and staff support from UK based Webhelp staff.
Sandy Campbell, founder of WorkingRite, said: “We are delighted to launch our partnership with Webhelp and Think Human Foundation. Both organisations and WorkingRite share a common ethos of supporting people on a human level.
“Webhelp and Think Human Foundation are backing us at an important time. As a charity, we are excited by the potential of this new model of employability support for young people before they leave school.
“Rite to Work is bridging a void that can open up for too many of our young people as they approach their school leaving date. By giving them the mentoring and coaching support they need whilst they are still at school, Rite to Work is helping each of them to transition seamlessly into a confident working future.”
Paul McGurn, deputy head, Robert Burns Academy, one of the schools that is taking part in the pilot project, said: "Rite To Work was developed at the exact time we needed it: post-Covid, when we really needed to increase support to our young people who were living and learning in very challenging circumstances.
“The project offers valuable mentoring and support to prepare young people for leaving school and transitioning into work and we would love to see the pilot replicated throughout Scotland."
The new partnership was launched at Centrestage, Kilmarnock on 21 April.
