Centre Forward - a partnership between Forth Valley College and the Falkirk Foundation (FF) – are recruiting now for their second cohort, due to start on Wednesday 28 October.
New £100,000 in funding from the National Lottery Community Fund Young Start Programme, was announced for the initiative back in the middle of August, and 12 eligible students were quickly recruited.
Now the partnership are looking for a dozen more young people (aged between 16-24) with learning disabilities to help them achieve their aspirations, develop existing skills and improve confidence through using sport and physical activity to deliver positive life changes.
The course has been running for the last two years and the new funding will allow it to keep going for at least another three years and anyone looking to find out more or to apply online should visit: https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/courses/supported-learning/centre-forward-programme
FVC’s Department of Business and Communities – who have extensive expertise in this area – have teamed up with Falkirk Foundation who will use the ‘Development through Sport’ model to help accelerate learning and development as well as promote self-esteem and confidence.
Combined with certificated SQA units, the project will offer a comprehensive suite of skills that will enable each young person taking part to overcome their individual barriers to progression. All of the classroom based workshops are coupled with practical sport/physical activity sessions to enhance skills-for-work, decision-making, problem-solving and team work, whilst enhancing feelings of belonging, contribution and achievement.
In addition, young people taking part will be enrolled as FVC students and will therefore benefit from the range of student resources available, including the Learning Resource Centre, Student Services and on-campus gym – upon further easing of the current Coronavirus restrictions.
During the first two years, 25 young people with learning disabilities have taken part in Centre Forward, successfully completing 189 qualifications and engaging with the local community through volunteering at more than 10 local events. The young people have also raised awareness with the local business community through fantastic links developed with the Falkirk Business Bairns and DYW Forth Valley.