Breakthrough for youngsters

NEW statistics which lay bare the poor further education and job prospects for Dundee’s looked-after children make for pretty grim reading.

The chances of youngsters in the care system in the city reaching positive destinations when they leave secondary school are well below the Scottish average and, nationally, better only than those of their peers in South Ayrshire.

And the figures for their record in gaining qualifications while still at school are just as poor (see pages 4&5).

It’s hard to reconcile these stark home truths with the fact the city is in the middle of an unprecedented economic and cultural renaissance.

But, thanks to something that happened in 2017, there is real optimism that a whole generation of disadvantaged but talented, creative young people will get opportunities to study, train and forge themselves rewarding careers.

Breakthrough Dundee was created last year to give looked-after children learning experiences and mentoring support.

Working in partnership with the local authority, it offers a beacon of hope to youngsters who would otherwise never get the chance to fulfil their potential.

It is already changing children’s lives for the better and setting them on paths that even a few months ago they would have felt were blocked to them.

The current situation won’t be transformed overnight – it will take time.

But thanks to the pioneering efforts being spearheaded by Breakthrough, those grim statistics will be turned around and more and more looked-after youngsters will be able to play their part and share in Dundee’s bright future.