KINTYRE YOUTH ENQUIRY SERVICE
Kintyre Youth Enquiry Service continues to change lives
THERE is much more to Kintyre Youth Enquiry Service (KYES) than just operating a traditional youth club. It provides a safe environment for the young people in the area to meet on a social level, participate in training and take part in various activities provided by the club, enabling people to develop socially and mentally through the wide range of provisions offered.
Thanks to BBC Children in Need funding of £58,000, the Main Street charity’s Phil Edwards is set to continue helping at least 150 young people a week for the next three years.
Although the organisation, founded in 1999, has four specific aims, these do not cover the full gamut of skills and life training offered from the service’s base.
These specific aims are:
• To reduce unemployment • To increase young people’s awareness of
health and hygiene • To enable young people to live independently • To improve young people’s life skills
In addition KYES has a group of core objectives listed on its website which are:
• To provide training opportunities • To run a drop in service • To provide information and advice • To provide life-skills courses • To organise social activities • To offer one to one support • To offer help with CVs and interview skills • To provide use of telephone and internet service • To reduce substance misuse by running diversionary schemes • To provide advice & support on Welfare rights. In its first aim KYES’S Job Information Club has been so successful recently that it is facing a bit of a hiatus with fewer members needing its services. Through the training provided such as how to enhance your CV and prepare for job interviews, more than 15 young people have gained full time employment, with a number in part time positions also.
Lesley Renton, 27, gained employment with KYES at the age of 19 in the role of admin support and was a frequent user of the facility herself. Now, she is involved in all aspects of youth work and housing support, however explains that life at KYES is not all about finding a job. Helping young people live and maintain their own tenancy independently is one of the charity’s most important functions.
She said: ‘When a 16 to 24-year-old gets accommodation and is referred we help get them onto housing benefit, help with budgeting, general do it yourself and even cleaning, washing and sometimes gardening.
‘We have a very good relationship with Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) and Fyne Homes and when someone is in a property they try to let us know about any potential problems before they occur.
‘Sometimes I find it very sad when a young person has just been pushed out from their home and are left to fend for themselves.’
New tenants who have nothing can apply for community care grants when they get a tenancy but the process for distributing the benefit has recently changed.
Youth information worker, Phil Edwards, explains the change: ‘Previously a tenant would have all the items such as white goods and carpeting fitted.
‘Under the new system they are given the money directly on a monthly basis like housing benefit and have to budget.
‘Sometimes it can be a bit of a nightmare but normally we help people spend the money wisely.’ Life Skills classes helps to do just that. The weekly class helps people learn skills to live a healthy life-style and how to manage a budget. The project has grown through its own success and each week young people meet at the club for three hours, cook a meal together and take part in discussions about issues such as drugs and alcohol, First Aid, general DIY and budgeting.
However, life at KYES is not all about serious issues like jobs and housing. A recent development is a Wednesday afternoon chess club which can help develop strategic thinking. Thursday and Friday evenings the club is open for anyone to drop in where young people can simply relax and socialise, play pool, Xbox, Playstation, or use the computers while supervision is provided by two qualified youth workers. Daily drop-ins are from 12-5 and the number of young people attending this is rising monthly. During the summer, thanks to funding from Youthlink’s Cash Back from Communities, there will be an exchange trip.
Lesley said: ‘We plan to visit Royston Youth Club with 15 young people and three adults.
‘It will give our rural based youths the chance to see how things operate in a city youth club and also go on the underground, to museums and the open air tourist bus.
‘Later in the year Royston youths will visit Kintyre.’
As a charity KYES relies on a range of generous benefactors for all its funding with ongoing funders as: Kilfinan Trust (Foundation Scotland). BBC Children in Need, Gannochy Trust, Youthlink (Cash Back for Communities), ACHA small grants scheme, Garfield Weston Charity, Enable Scotland, Percy Bilton Charity and SCVO (Community Jobs Scotland). Phil Edwards states that everyone helps is greatly appreciated. Whether it be a grant, a case of coca cola for a pool night given to them by a local shop or pub, or a couch from a stranger, every bit is helpful and KYES is extremely thankful.
Youths who attend the charity are encouraged to have a say on how its run. KYES has a committee made up of six young people and six adults from many different backgrounds including head Teachers, youth workers and parents.
The committee meets on the last Thursday of every month to discuss the months activities and to plan the next month ahead. Recently, a number of youths along with a youth worker have been volunteering their time at the Kintyre Care Home where they are working towards a sensory garden for the residents. They have made wind chimes, bird boxes and are now working on creating hanging baskets for the display of flowers. Lesley also explains that they often interact with those in the care home and ask them questions such as what their first record was, or their first job, which receives a great response from the residents.
KYES are strongly devoted to encouraging people to volunteer, not only to build skills and self-esteem but also to help build their CV. The youths often organize and participate in beach cleans, so the people of Kintyre can enjoy the beaches. The Young Scot Volunteer Awards was won by two Campbeltown girls, Kathleen McMillan in 2010 and Kirsty Cairns in 2013. KYES has developed a range of services since it was founded to tackle the problems faced by all young people. The club offers a neutral, confidential and approachable service for young people ages 12-25 and is an invaluable part of our community.
Keep an eye out for news of their open day, held each year around August time and for their monthly youth column, coming soon.
KYES will also be running a sports activity programme in the summer holidays. Look out for more details on Facebook.