Sam’s guest gig at McCoo gallery
Jobless total up
A full 10 per cent increase has just been recorded in unemployment levels.
The huge increase sees 160 more people claiming benefit since the month of May last year.
But the figures are a third down on 2010.
There are now 1830 people unemployed in South Ayrshire.
Of that, 380 are youngsters between 18 and 24, an age group down one per cent.
Lynne Walker, of the Department of Work and Pensions in Ayr, revealed new roles in childcare are on the way.
She said: “The early years sector has commenced preparation to deliver the new extended entitlement to 30 hours of childcare for working parents of three and four- year- olds.
“To keep up with the resulting new demand for free childcare, the workforce is growing dramatically and in South Ayrshire there are many new job and apprenticeship opportunities.”
Former X Factor winner Sam Bailey treated guests at an Ayr art gallery to a special concert.
And it was an extra special gig for Sam last Tuesday night as she had the chance to see some of her favourite work by friend Steven Brown at his gallery in New Market Street.
Fans gathered outside the art gallery to meet the singer and she happily spent time signing autographs and posing for selfies with the crowd.
Sam said: “I love Steven’s work. He has become a great friend and I was happy to come up on my day off and sing for him and his guests.
“I was lucky enough to be given my very own Steven Brown painting for my birthday and looking around the gallery, it is amazing to see everything together in one place. I love one more than the next.”
Since winning the X Factor, Sam has enjoyed performing up and down the country. And she is also set to appear in panto, in Peter Pan, this Christmas.
“I have been given a fantastic opportunity and have grabbed it with both hands,” said Sam.
“I have to juggle my family life and my career but I am my own boss and always manage to get some time off when I can, especially if it means I can come up and spend time with Steven and Caroline.”
Steven said: “We wanted to host a VIP night for our customers and Sam offered to come along and perform some tracks for us. She has an amazing talent and I am in awe of her.
“She is a busy lady and we are thrilled that she took time to come all the way to Ayrshire to sing for us.
“What a voice and what a night. To have people looking at the paintings and listening to Sam, it was fantastic to celebrate art and music together.”
Britain’s Got Talent winner Jai McDowall, from Tarbolton, is an avid art fan and can’t get enough of the McCoo style paintings. He said: “I first found out about Steven’s work when I visited my aunt in London and spotted a picture of a McCoo.
“I searched the internet and found out more about it and before I knew it I was visiting Steven and have been a fan ever since.”
When he’s not in the recording studio, Jai is busy seeing the world performing on cruise ships.
He added: “I’m just back from Norway and I have been to the Carribean a couple of times as well as Mediterranean cruises.
“I can’t complain – especially on the Carribean ones when you get a nice tan.”
X Factor runner- up Nicki McDonald, from Lanarkshire, was also on hand to meet young fans.
The volunteers from the Whiteleys Retreat children’s hospice in Ayr were there too as 10 per cent of all sales were being gifted to the charity.