Councillors set sights on vision for children and young people

Education committee members have approved Highland Council’s plan for young people titled My Future, My Success.

It sets out the vision and plans for ambitious and sustained destinations for children and young people in Highland.

Education chairman Councillor John Finlayson said the plan would help to empower young people to make the right decisions at the right time for their future.

‘By connecting our pupils with a network of support including work placements, career insights and spotlight sessions, then we can help to make sure that children and young people in Highland have a future which is determined by their potential, their skills and their aptitude and not just their background or other advantageous circumstances that might prevail,’ he said.

There are five ambitious planned programmes of work which will aim to improve outcomes and positive destinations for some of the most vulnerable children and young people across the Highlands.

These are to strengthen support for mentoring and upskilling mentors; develop the Modern Apprenticeship scheme for most vulnerable school leavers; expand training skills and learning opportunities and deliver in partnership with University of Highlands and Islands/ Skills Development Scotland including vocational and formal qualifications; targeted support for social enterprise and recognising the third sector.

A place-based delivery model of youth hub social enterprises and school social enterprise projects could ensure that every child and young person in Highland can develop entrepreneurial skills while understanding their local context and social needs and a work placement programme linking to the public sector.