Violence mentors trained at Grand Hall
Pupils from Park School, Cumnock Support e d Learning Cent re and Kilmarnock, Grange, Loudoun, Stewarton, Cumnock and Auchinleck academies took part in a Mentors in Violence P r e v e n t i o n ( M V P ) programme recently at the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock.
The programme explored gender- based violence, recognising the scope of violent behaviour and child protection issues.
Through MVP, mentors are trained to speak out against rape, dating violence, sexual harassment, bullying and all forms of violent and abusive behaviour using real- life scenarios that speak to the experiences of young people in secondary schools. One of the workshops was led by fifth year Kilmarnock Academy pupils Kyle Henderson and Aimee Purdie.
The programme is supported by East Ayrshire Women’s Aid and Police Scotland, both of whom also led workshops at the event.
Councillor Jim McMahon, cabinet member for community safety, said: “The programme helps young people in secondary schools to tackle issues that relate to culture, beliefs and attitudes towards violence, in particular gender- based violence.
“Crucially, it alerts pupils to the responsibilities they have to intervene or report such incidents if they witness them or become aware of them. All of the pupils who took part were really engaged and willing to learn more about this topic which sadly affects far too many people in our society today.”
Later Scottish SPCA deputy Ch Supt Tom Gatherer said: “We have had no additional reports of panther sightings in Ayrshire to our animal helpline.
“After reviewing the images, we believe it is a large domestic cat.”
The facebook feed of Ayrshire Police Divison was shared more than 1000 times and amassed more than 800 comments.
It said: “Officers are currently working to locate the animal which may be injured.”
Later police tweeted: “Officers who have been investigating a number of reports of a large black cat in fields near to the B730 have been liaising with a big cat expert who does not believe that it is a black panther, however cannot yet confirm what type of animal it is.”
It led to the mystery beast having his own Drongan Panther Facebook page, now with more than 300 friends, and who taunted police: “You can’t catch me.”
Another joker started the Black Caf fae Drongan Twitter page and amassed nearly 2400 followers.
And he said: “Just goat asked tae switch oan the Drongan Christmas lights this year.”
But he had said earlier: “You’ll never take me alive.”
Salena Riley quipped: “Aw for God’s sake... Can a girl no go oot in her fave pvc onesie nowadays without being papped?”
Kimberley Sophia McCutcheon joked: “Somebody should be warning the black panther about Drongan.”
David Bruce asked Ayrshire Police Division: “Are there many reportings of drug use in these areas?”
And William Lafferty said: “Ludicrous... shouldn’t be giving credence to this nonsense.”