Lochgilphead young people get RitetoWork at golf course
Lochgilphead High School’s RitetoWork group has been pitching in at Lochgilphead Golf Club.
The youngsters are working with some of the employees at the course.
They have been learning about the maintenance of the greens and equipment used for the upkeep.
Recently, the group has been helping to tidy overhanging branches, building benches, painting numbers on the holes, seeding and repairing divots.
WorkingRite is a youth employment charity which helps young people get their foot in the door in the workplace.
MAYDS (Mid Argyll Youth Development Services) delivers the project in Argyll and Bute on behalf of the charity. They match young people up with local employers for placements which can result in a job offer, modern apprenticeship or a reference with work experience.
The RitetoWork project is a programme supporting S4 pupils before their school leaving age. Lochgilphead High School is the first school in Argyll and Bute to take part in the scheme.
Eight fourth years at Lochgilphead are involved in the pilot. It will see them gaining skills, experience, qualifications and certificates to help prepare them for the world of work.
Fiona Kalache, project manager at MAYDS, said: “The golf club was having issues with young people using the course without paying the fees.
“Our group has been doing quite a lot of work up there. It gives them experience and lets them see the amount of work that goes into looking after the course.
“The group has been learning that voluntary work can open doors into a permanent job.
“They are quite keen and I’m hoping to get them club memberships at the end of the project.”
Through the RitetoWork project they will gain an SVQ Certificate of Work Readiness.
The course will be tailor-made to the needs of the youngsters. Fiona will help them gain certain qualifications such as first aid or health and safety, depending on the line of work they are keen to go down.
They attend the MAYDS office in Union Street one day a week for employment training in the year before leaving school.