
UKSE proudly supports Ayrshire children’s charity.
Yipworld, a charitable enterprise for children in Ayrshire, has welcomed £2,500 of funding from UKSE to support its Skills Shop project.
The funding will be used by Yipworld to support adolescents who face barriers to education, enabling them to get back on track through its dedicated Skills Shop programme aimed at pupils from Robert Burns Academy’s Barony Campus in Cumnock. The programme offers S3 and S4 pupils who are disconnected from education an opportunity to return in a supportive environment.
The Skills Shop’s term-time programme offers a range of activities, including gardening, furniture upcycling, bike maintenance, and hair and beauty. These activities provide practical skills as well as foster communication, team building, and confidence amongst the youngsters.
Our grant will be used to purchase essential resources for the pupils’ participation in the Skills Shop’s activities. It will also support the charity in welcoming more volunteers, who are vital to the organisation’s success, by helping to provide them with an allowance.
The charity began running Skills Shop in 2023 with 17 pupils from Robert Burns Academy. The initiative has generated excellent outcomes, with students returning to education with additional support and progressing onto training programmes, creating a foundation for them to move into further education or secure employment.
Scott Webb, regional manager at UKSE, said: “Yipworld has been helping young people across Ayrshire for 25 years. The Skills Shop offers youngsters who face barriers in accessing education a practical means to attend school. It is fantastic to learn about the positive impact the new programme is already having across Ayrshire, and we look forward to learning about its continued success, which we are so pleased to support.”
Janice Hendry, founder and CEO of Yipworld, said: “The Skills Shop is designed to support young people who are disenfranchised from education throughout the school term and helps guide them into positive destinations, like further education or skills training. We have fostered a positive and nurturing environment where we give time and a listening ear to young people.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the funding from UKSE, which, combined with additional funding we’ve raised through other avenues such as taking part in the Kiltwalk, will allow us to buy resources essential to the range of activities offered by the Skills Shop We’re also able to bring in staff that have additional qualifications who can support the mental health and wellbeing of the young people involved.”
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