Holiday scheme ‘success’

A TRIAL holiday hunger and activity programme, aimed at giving Perth youngsters a square meal and a chance to blow off some steam with their friends, has been declared a success by education bosses.

The Taste of St John’s project, run by St John’s Academy from the North Inch Community Campus, was set up to provide youngsters with a nutritious meal, as well as social activities throughout the break.

St John’s head teacher Sean Hagney said the programme was exactly what community campuses were intended to bring to their neighbourhoods.

A number of other local authorities have set up schemes offering free school lunches during breaks.

The Perth and Kinross Council-funded project was created with as much of a focus on social activities to help beat boredom during the long summer holiday.

The authority built on the success of pilot schemes held last summer at Letham and Rattray primary schools.

Pupils in S1-S3 pupils enjoyed days out gorge wa l k i n g a n d v i s i t i n g climbing walls.

Primary school youngsters also got involved in various play activities making use of the school’s PE and home economics facilities.

Education and children’s services director Sheena Devlin said: “This is the first time Perth and Kinross Council has put money into this kind of activity, recognising the fact that particularly over a seven-week holiday period, that’s a long time for youngsters not to be seeing their friends.” CHILDREN living in Angus returned to the class- room for their first day back after the summer break.

Starting a day later than their peers in Dundee, thousands of pupils were back in uniform after their six-week holiday.

A total of 1,229 pupils walked through the school gates for the first time, as they started their primary school education.

Angus Council’s children and learning convener Derek Wann said: “I’m delighted to welcome everyone back to the start of a new school year. JOBSEEKERS in Dundee are being i nv ited to learn more about l a r ge b u s i n e s s e s a n d orga n isat ions offer i ng hundreds of employment opportunities in the area.

Dundee City Jobcentre Plus, at Wellgate House, will host information sessions about vacancies in the food and care industries.

The first session focuses on NHS Tayside’s Healthcare Academy, which is looking for 15 people to take part in a six-week course offering training in all aspects of care, three weeks of work experience and a guaranteed relevant interview with NHS Tayside at the end of it.

Training offered includes basic IT, emergency first aid, health and safety awareness, food hygiene, infection control and manual handling.

Visits to NHS departments are included in the training and the course is followed by three weeks of work experience in the care industry.