The Galloway Glens Scheme aims to ‘connect people to their heritage’, while giving a boost to the local economy and supporting sustainable communities. A key strand of these efforts is to support people of working age that are seeking employment, allowing them to remain in the region.
The Galloway Glens has part-funded 3 full-time 6-month internships so far, and is now offering a different sort of opportunity, this time with the Glenkens Community and Arts Trust (GCAT). GCAT’s CatStrand Youth team are working on an exciting Youth Spaces project in partnership with other local organisations thanks to support from the Blackcraig Wind Farm Community Fund, administered by Foundation Scotland working in partnership with the Glenkens & District Trust, and The Holywood Trust, to deliver a project exploring pilot spaces in the area. The project includes internship opportunities for young people to support the delivery of the work over the next six months, and Galloway Glens is supporting one of those positions.
GCAT is offering two 18-week part-time paid internships in Youth Work, which will include training in Youth Work Essentials from Dumfries & Galloway Council and plenty of hands-on experience. Perfect for any young person (16-25 years) with an interest in a career in this sector.
The main role for the two interns will be to support the work of the CatStrand Youth team with the young people of the Glenkens in piloting, designing and creating a plan for an ideal youth space that meets their needs between May and August 2021. There is currently no general youth work provision for high school age young people in the immediate area. The work will include an overnight research trip to BREATHE – a project in Aberfeldy which has created and runs an outdoor youth space for young people already. The working hours are variable and can be agreed with the successful candidates, but will average out at 8 hours per week over the 18 week period.
The position would suit someone aged 16 to 25 with a keen interest in Youth Work as a future career. If you’re passionate about supporting other young people to make the most of opportunities, this could be for you.
For more information and full job description, see www.gcat.scot/jobs. Application deadline is the 23rd April 2021. Apply by sending a note of interest and experience to [email protected]. 8 hours a week, £8.91 per hour.
Aidan Nicol, the Arts, Culture and Heritage Manager for GCAT, said,
“The issue of a space that young people can have ownership of in the Glenkens, to meet and socialise in, has been raised many times by the young people we are engaged with. It’s great to be working with other local organisations to finally get some piloting off the ground around this, and we’re delighted to be able to work with the Galloway Glens to offer two internships to ensure there are meaningful outcomes for young people in the area from the outset.”
Helen Keron, the Galloway Glens’ Education & Community Engagement Officer, said:
“This is a different sort of intern position from our previous three, but a really interesting one. The flexibility of the working hours mean that it could appeal to young people still in school or training, if they are looking to get experience in the Youth Work sector. We’re looking forward to seeing how they and the CatStrand Youth team work together on this exciting Youth Spaces project for the Glenkens.”
In addition to the Youth Work internships, adult volunteers will be needed to support the Youth Spaces project in the Glenkens. GCAT is running a training day for adults (18+) who are interested in helping out in this way, in partnership with D&G Council. The voluntary work between June and August 2021 may lead to paid opportunities as the project continues. The time commitment over the Summer could be as little as 2.5 hrs every two weeks, or up to 3 hrs a week. This will be in the evening or at weekends or occasionally during the daytime during school holidays.
For more details, email [email protected] or speak to your local voluntary organisation in the Glenkens – LING, Balmaclellan Hall, Crossmichael Youth Club and NGCE can all provide details.
The training day is Saturday 8th May 2021 11-5pm at The Smiddy in Balmaclellan. Lunch will be provided.
Sign up by the 4th May through [email protected].
If you can’t make the full day, let Aidan know as separate sessions can be arranged.
The Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme is a suite of projects happening across the catchments of the rivers Ken and Dee from 2018 to 2023. £2.7million of core funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will be matched by a variety of partners to bring over £5million of investment into the area over the 5 years. The area stretches from the uplands behind Carsphairn in the north, through the Glenkens, past Loch Ken, through Castle Douglas and out to the sea at Kirkcudbright. 35 headline projects plus more Small Grants projects all aim to connect people with their cultural, natural and built heritage, and to support sustainable modern rural communities. For more information about the scheme, visit www.gallowayglens.org.
