CARE-experienced students struggling to complete their studies have received brand new laptops to thanks to a £5000 donation from Glasgow Colleges' Regional Board (GCRB).
The GCRB gave the cash to provide 25 laptops for Action for Children’s STAY project, which provides practical and emotional help to students from care backgrounds to help them succeed in college and beyond.
Since lockdown, staff have also been delivering parcels containing toiletries and food items.
Krai-Harry Sweeney, 29, who grew up in the care system and now studies STEM Level 4 Engineering, is one of the students to benefit.
When lockdown closed colleges and forced students to study at home, Krai was left without access to a computer. Thanks to the donation from the GCRB, Alannah Duncan, Young Person’s Practitioner at the STAY project, was able to secure Krai a brand new Google Chromebook notebook in order to allow him to continue his studies at home and complete the college year.
“This Google Chromebook is really important,” said Krai, who is hoping to work in residential care or as a support worker for young vulnerable people. “It has allowed me to continue to engage with my course, finish up my studies for this year and also prepare for next year at college.”
Paul Carberry, Action for Children Director for Scotland, said: “Since lockdown closed colleges, many students have found themselves struggling to carry on their studies due to lack of access to an appropriate device. Thanks to the support of Glasgow Colleges Regional Board, staff at our STAY project have been able to deliver laptops to students. Not only will this allow them to finish the year’s studies, but they will also be able to keep in contact with friends and family, something that’s also very important during this time.”
Also in the city, Impact Arts have awarded funds through its Make it Your Own programme to young people with care experience.
Applicants can receive up to £250 to help with physical and mental wellbeing during COVID-19 via the charity’s Life Changes Trust Keeping Well Fund.
Through a combination of one to one and group workshops, young people learn the practical and life skills they need to successfully sustain their own tenancy. Since lockdown came in to place, the Make It Your Own Tutors have been working with young people virtually to help keep them engaged.
Some of the items applied for included a microphone, speaker and keyboard, a sewing machine and fabric, a drawing table, resin and jewellery making supplies, and baking supplies.
Impact Arts are still taking referrals for Make It Your Own through its website and will be running programmes across Scotland for young people starting this month.
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