Caithness Committee highlights positive impact of post-school programme
On Monday, Caithness councillors paid tribute to the work being done ensuring young local people are more prepared to enter a "positive destination" on leaving school such as higher education, further education, training, employment, and voluntary work.
My Future, My Success (MFMS) is a partnership approach to empower young people across the Highlands to think about their future careers and aspirations by connecting them with a network of support, employability and enterprise learning, mentoring and personal skills building, ensuring that their future is determined by potential not by background, barriers, or the postcode that they come from.
Caithness Committe chair, Cllr Ron Gunn said: “There is a lot to be celebrated with all this excellent work taking place to support our most vulnerable young people and help them achieve opportunities and skills to prepare them for life after school, I would like to congratulate our young people on their achievements.
"I would also like to thank and acknowledge the joint working of school staff, parents, and partners who are working together to make sure My future My Success continues to make a positive impact.”
A report presented to the Caithness Committee provided a six-month progress report on activity currently being undertaken in relation to MFMS in Caithness. MFMS has 316 referrals from 31 schools across the Highland Council area – both Thurso High School and Wick High School have referred pupils.
Ninety-one per cent of young people in Caithness have engaged with MFMS and of the seven young people due to leave school soon, six are expected to achieve a positive destination.
The report included information on some of the projects underway.
Healthcare Pathway Pilot
The Highland Council is one of five NHS Huddle groups who are piloting the Healthcare Pathway pilot through NHS Academy, Skills Development Scotland and UHI beginning in session 2023/24. There are 29 young people from 6 schools involved, including Wick High School.
Pharmacy Sponsorship
In partnership with MFMS, NHS Highland has created a pilot sponsorship scheme on the premise that people educated and trained in their local community are more likely to continue to work in that community when they have completed their education and training.
The programme offers:
- Up to 20 weeks of paid work per year during their university holidays and employment within Caithness General Hospital (CGH) throughout the scheme.
- £3000 per year to support with expenses, travel, accommodation, and specifically for materials to support study such as laptop, books, or materials.
- Provide the student with a mentor from the service who is accessible to them throughout their studies.
- Work in partnership with NHS Education for Scotland to ensure that, on graduation, the foundation pharmacist enters a training scheme based in CGH with cross sector training in other hospitals, primary care, and community pharmacy.
One pupil from Wick High School has successfully secured an offer and once the young person has met the UCAS conditions they will be able to start in post.