The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Caring young people are playing vital role
Course has helped participants to find employment
Youngsters who landed jobs as carers after an employment course are now providing invaluable companionship for elderly people.
The Mears Care Aberdeen agency ran the scheme earlier this year to help young people in the north-east escape unemployment.
The six-week training programme was conducted in conjunction with the Aberdeen Foyer charity and helped those lacking confidence enter the world of work.
By the end of the course, five of the 10 participants obtained full-time roles.
They have now been commended for rising to the occasion during the coronavirus lockdown by providing a daily morale boost to the pensioners they look after. Carers can often be their only point of contact with the outside world as they are forced to remain apart from loved ones.
Shaun Adams is among the new recruits lending a helping hand.
He said: “The best bit of the job for me is when they smile. It’s good to know that I can bring cheer to someone else’s life.
“Some of them are finding all the Covid-19 restrictions really tough.”
He added: “But if I have a good chat with them and they tell me about their day, they soon cheer up.”
Kaelin Ewen, 18, is one of the new recruits based in Peterhead.
Mr Ewen said: “I wanted work helping people, which would be rewarding, doing something of real value.
“I only started this week and I am so glad I took this direction for my career.
“The people we care for are amazing and they are hugely appreciative of our help. They share their life stories while we are working with them and it’s so good to hear.”
Local service manager for Mears, Nicola Keenan, said: “Many of those attending the course had found a lack of confidence, sometimes after a long spell of unemployment.
“Some had no motivation and no skills but the course conquered all of that.”
A Moray church has “flourished” online while its building remains closed during lockdown.
Portknockie Church’s linked Sunday services with Findochty are being live-streamed on Facebook and are receiving more than 1,000 viewers.
Activities for the children of Portknockie Sunday School and Thursday Club have also moved online.
The two groups joined together for a recent virtual Sunday school picnic and prize-giving, which was enjoyed in households throughout the village.
Sunday School and Thursday Club leader Val Donaldson said the church delivered goodies and prizes to households so the youngsters did not miss out.
Minister the Rev Dr Jaco Boonzaaier hailed the work of the church’s children ministry for their “wonderful job”. He said: “The activities provided for the children are fun, interesting and educational as well as recognising the fact we are a religious body.”
“The best bit of the job for me is when they smile”