Employment charity helps young people into the workplace

WORKINGRITE, a youth employment charity, has seen a significant success rate in Mid and North Argyll, putting local 16-19-year- olds on the path to employment and modern apprenticeships – and giving businesses a welcome boost.

Since 2010, WorkingRite has successfully supported more than 1,500 young people. Allan Cameron, 17, a trainee at Kevan Brown Ltd, said: ‘I am glad I joined the WorkingRite programme as it has let me gain first-hand experience in a trade that I want to work in.’

WorkingRite matches young people to small- or medium-sized businesses and supports them through a work-based training programme. Trainees with WorkingRite complete a threeto six-month placement with an employer and are given a weekly training allowance. They are supported by an adult mentor in the workplace, as well as their local WorkingRite project co-ordinator.

Nicola McDade, a project co- ordinator, said: ‘Some of the young people we work with have already experienced various barriers in their lives that mean they need a helping hand from a programme like WorkingRite to help them on their way.

‘WorkingRite treats each person individually and places them carefully with local businesses in a trade that interests them and this is getting great results throughout Argyll,’

Young people joining the scheme want to work but most have struggled in school. However, if helped onto the right career path, they can cope with a mixture of work-based and formal learning to achieve the qualifications needed.

Nicola added: ‘We are hoping that these latest success stories will show other young people that there is a way for them to achieve a positive and successful future.’

For more information contact Nicola on 07341 561965.