Pictured rom left: Jason Smith, Cailey Owens, John Stewart and Moray Pathways key worker Beth Blampied.
Moray Pathways’ six-week summer offering young people the opportunity to try out a range of activities, came to an end this week with the scheme getting a thumbs up from the young people involved.
Now Moray’s MSP, Richard Lochhead, has praised Moray Pathways for being one of the first to offer face-to-face learning opportunities despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Richard Lochhead MSP said he was pleased Moray Pathways went ahead with the programme:
“It’s great to see that Moray Pathways was brave enough to go ahead with its plans to provide safe, face-to-face contact with these young people and provide a varied summer programme despite the situation we all face with Covid-19.
“There have been some fantastic online interactions for young people put in place, but there is nothing like being able to work with young people more directly.
“The activities look a lot of fun, but have also been well thought out to provide a variety of different skills opportunities and I wish all the participants the very best in the future.”
Beth Blampied, a key worker for Moray Pathways, ran one of the groups and said:
“Covid-19 and the lockdown had a significant effect on our young people so we’re pleased that the risk we took in putting on a face-to-face programme has paid off.
“We’ve had young people from all over Moray really engaging with the activities, they’ve maintained focus and embraced the opportunities.
“Many young people we see are at risk of not being in education, employment or training and the summer programme delivers something which helps them maintain a routine, structure, and activities that will be useful to them as they move on.”
Jason Smith and Cailey Owens (both 16) will soon begin a Life Skills course at Moray College, a key supporter of the programme.
Jason said:
“One of my favourite activities was making videos to show what we have done.
“I am really interested in that.”
Cailey added:
“I came on the summer programme to help build my confidence and I think it has helped.
“I really liked the drumming workshop and it has been really good to meet other young people, I have learned some good skills.”
Seventeen-year-old John Stewart from Forres added:
“It’s been great to get to know more people of a similar age to me and I have been able to meet someone else who will be going on to do the Future Focus course at Moray College which is what I am doing.
“The activities have been fun and have been about team building.
“I’m sad that the programme is ending.”
Over 30 young people took part in the Summer Programme meeting every week in two separate groups and were able to try bush craft skills, a community project, creative arts and also had local employers visit the site which included the young people taking part in a giant game of Frustration.
Moray Pathways is a partnership organisation which supports young people in training, learning and work.
