Help’s at hand for brave Kyle

Teen’s bright future as job offers poured in

Coatbridge Coatbridge teenager teenager Kyle Laird has been “overwhelmed” by the generosity of Advertiser readers who responded in droves after we highlighted his plight last week.

The 17-year-old lost his mum Tracy at Christmas and Kyle’s grief was compounded by worries about how he’d pay his rent and household bills.

We asked someone to give only child Kyle a job - and the response was astonishing.

Coatbridge teenager Kyle Laird wants to say a “huge thank you”to everyone who has helped him following our front page last week.

In a story that touched the hearts of the Monklands community and beyond, we reported that Kyle, as well as grieving for his beloved mum Tracy, was also extremely worried about the financial responsibilities his mum’s sudden death had left him with.

We asked for someone to please give Kyle a job, and highlighted a JustGiving page that had been started in his name.

The response was nothing short of phenomenal. Since publication, Kyle’s story has been read by countless thousands nationwide.

The “overwhelmed” 17- yearold has received an incredible 40 offers of employment and has watched incredulously as more than £10,000 has been pledged by generous donors to help with any impending financial concerns.

He’s even been offered free driving lessons to make him more attractive to would-be employers.

Now, with full-time employment on the horizon and a new tenancy agreement on his family home signed, Kyle says he “can’t thank everyone enough” for their help.

He told the Advertiser: “It’s amazing what people have done for me.

“I’m not great at showing my emotions but I’ll never be able to thank everyone enough. It’s overwhelming.

“It’s crazy to think about how many people have read my story; it’s difficult to process.

“I’m really grateful to the Advertiser as well as none of this would have happened without its highlighting of my situation.

“I look at the JustGiving page and can’t believe how much people have donated.

“The amount of job offers that have come through is amazing and I’m looking forward to getting to work and being able to stay in my home.

“Being offered free lessons from Transformers school of motoring means so much too, and hopefully I’m able to get my license soon.”

As well as offering his sincere thanks to all the generous strangers who have helped, Kyle also wanted to acknowledge his family and friends for their support.

He continued: “My uncle Pete has been incredible. He’s been doing everything he can to help sort things out.

“He chased up the tenancy agreement and helped me with forms and paperwork.

“I really don’t know where I’d be without him.

“My mates are constantly phoning to check up on me and inviting me round to theirs for dinner so that I’m not eating alone.

“I’m really grateful to all of them too.”

Kyle had expressed a desire to pursue an apprenticeship in either plumbing or joinery, but the amazing response has resulted in job offers in many additional fields.

He can now choose whether to be a chef, butcher, painter and decorator, childcare practitioner, or a sales assistant as well as his initial preferences.

He added: “I’m still hoping to work as an apprentice but to have so many options is great.

“I’ll have a good look at them all before making a decision, but I just want to stress how grateful I am to everyone who’s offered me a position.”

It’s amazing what people have done for me. I can’t thank them enough... Kyle Laird

Heartbroken After the death of his mum