canal college December 2014

If you are aged between 18 and 25 and are not in education, employment or training but would like to have something to do this February which involves learning new skills outdoors then this is for you.

The Scottish Waterways Trust are recruiting for the last ever canal college. So far they have reported huge success for young people in Edinburgh with 57% of the young people they work with going onto into employment, paid training, volunteering and further education.

Programme 6 starts on Tuesday 10 February 2015 and they are looking for young people aged from 16 – 25 years old who are not in education, employment or training and want to learn new skills in the outdoors.

TER Union Canal

It’s called Canal College because they spend most of their time along the Union Canal in Edinburgh learning about canal engineering, management and maintenance, landscaping, wildlife conservation, tree planting and vegetation management. They have use of the Lochrin Bell, a lovely purple barge and there is a wee bit of writing to be done, but mostly they are outside doing practical ‘hands on’ activities.

They are looking for new recruits for projects in Falkirk and Edinburgh. The Edinburgh group meets on a Thursday and Friday and the Falkirk group meet on a Monday and Tuesday. Activities are run along the Union canal in Edinburgh and the Forth & Clyde in Falkirk.

Young people will have the opportunity to achieve the following certificates:

 – Saltire Awards, John Muir (Discovery Level), Youth Achievement Award, a Health & Safety Certificate from Scottish Canals and a Canal College Award from Scottish Waterways Trust.

And they give support with practical job searching, CV writing and interview skills.  On completion of the course we can provide a reference for any future employer.

If you like the sound of this or have young people you would like to refer then visit the Scottish Waterways Trust website and facebook page to see them in action and find out more.

Travel expenses are paid.

If you are interested please contact the Project Coordinator for more information and to find out how to get involved:

For Edinburgh call or text Danielle on 07795 645683 or email danielle@scottishwaterwaystrust.org.uk

For Falkirk call or text Carol on 07717 224725 or carol@scottishwaterwaystrust.org.uk

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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.