A new ‘Caring Careers’ course starting in January 2024 based at Forth Valley College’s Alloa Campus, aims to give opportunities to explore a career in health and social care for those living in Clackmannanshire.
FVC’s Department of Care, Sport, Business and Communities was recently successful in securing a grant award of £25,000 from the Clackmannanshire Local Employability Partnership No-One Left Behind/Tackling Child Poverty Employability Grant Scheme, to launch a tailored six week course called Caring Careers: Essential Skills for Employment.
Running from January to Easter 2024 the bespoke skills and development course offers tailored learning packages specifically designed to meet the core needs of unemployed and low income parents (of all ages) across the Wee County. It will also highlight the opportunities offered in health and social care – meeting the local demand for skills in this growing sector.
The College’s experienced team will provide intensive support to engage learners, build confidence and skills, aimed at developing and fulfilling their aspirations and employability as they progress through the programme. For more information on how to apply for the course visit https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/courses/care/caring-careers-essential-skills-for-employment
The programme’s core content is designed to address three strategic objectives:
- The national and local government strategic plan for addressing child poverty by increasing employment prospects for parents within Clackmannanshire to access high quality employment. It will do this by helping learners develop their own plans and build the knowledge, confidence and skills which will influence their opportunities to gain employment
- The personal development of Clackmannanshire parents to increase their employability. This course places learners at the heart of the programme, and will take a holistic approach to ensure their needs remain central within the development of the course framework. This will be delivered through regular touch points within sessions to help set goals, identify factors which promote successful completion and help develop strategies to overcome the challenges they are likely to experience.
- Reducing unemployment for individuals and the local community, with the College aiming to deliver social value for the learners who join the programme, their families and the local community. FVC also aim to build strong partnerships with local employers such as The Stirling and Clackmannanshire Integrated Partnerships and networks, which include Scottish Care. These represent the Independent care sector in Scotland and the NHS Youth Academy provide gateways into new opportunities and future employment.
Councillor Graham Lindsay, Clackmannanshire Council’s spokesperson for education, said: “I am delighted to see Forth Valley College delivering this course after receiving funding from our Local Employability Partnership.
“As a Council we are determined to improve the lives of as many of our residents as we can and this new course aligns perfectly with our focus on tackling poverty and unemployment. I sincerely hope those attending the course will find it useful and it is hopefully the first step towards a new career and a brighter future for them and their families.”
Jane Muir, Curriculum Manager in FVC’s Department of Care, Sport, Business and Communities, said: “I am delighted that college has secured the funding to deliver this vital course. This is an opportunity for parents in Clackmannan to take their first steps towards a career in the caring services. We look forward to welcoming these new students to the Alloa Campus in January. "
Pauline Jackson, FVC’s Development and Fundraising Manager, said: “We are delighted to be awarded funding from the NOLB/Tackling Child Poverty Scheme. This programme has been designed to meet the needs of individuals who may be experiencing challenging times and gives them a unique chance to learn new skills, whilst exploring what the health and social care sector has to offer. The causes and impacts of poverty are complex, however we hope this project based at our fantastic Alloa Campus will support people to explore their options going forward.”