Edinburgh.College..Dalkeith.students

A group of young and unemployed people from Edinburgh College have given a presentation at the Scottish Parliament to show an MSP the new job skills they have learned.

The group of 11 young people, who took part in a joint programme between Edinburgh College and The Prince’s Trust, presented their work to MSP Colin Beattie – a rare opportunity to share their ideas and present their skills to Scotland’s decision makers.

The 12-week personal development programme aims to give young people skills and knowledge to make them more employable and help build their confidence. It includes lessons in the classroom on C.V. building and job hunting as well as placements within the local community. One of the community projects saw the students create illustrated historical boards to decorate unused shop fronts on Dalkeith’s high street, which not only spruced up the street but also highlighted Dalkeith’s significant past and brought the history of the area to life for local people.

The group celebrated their achievements at the Scottish Parliament and played a short video that showed them in action, painting local buildings, doing their community project for the Dalkeith high street and the tasks involved in an action-packed residential week. During the presentation, the students were given the opportunity to ask questions about employment opportunities in Scotland and shared their own experiences of The Prince’s Trust Team programme and the benefits this has given them.

Graeme Stewart, Prince’s Trust Team Leader, seconded from Police Scotland, said: “It was a brilliant experience for the students to show all the new skills they have learned in the Scottish Parliament. Some of them had never been to parliament before so this was a great opportunity for them to have a tour of the building, meet their local MSP and talk to them about the opportunities open to young people in Scotland.”

Graeme added: “This group of young people from Midlothian have shown what can be achieved when young people are given the support they need to get into education, training or employment. The delivery of this programme was a very successful piece of partnership working between the Prince’s Trust, Police Scotland and Edinburgh College. Together these organisations have helped bring fresh vision and hope to young people who, I am sure, will go on to make very positive contributions to their local community.”

Photography caption: MSP Colin Beattie, Mike Eldridge, Kyle McDowall, Graeme Stewart Prince’s Trust Team Leader, Chris Sayers, Shannon Wells, Dale Roy, Sean Blake, Anna Templeton, William Simpson and Clare Robertson.

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John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.