Digital Skills project gets underway
We announced recently that the Scottish Tech Army is part of a consortium that will be developing a digital skills for life and work programme for care-experienced young people, supported by funding from The Life Changes Trust Legacy Fund. Having disbursed all its funds, the Trust itself has now wound up and we tuned in to some emotional webinars reviewing the impact of the Trust over the last seven years. It’s clear that it is held in very high regard by those organisations that have worked with and benefitted from the Trust and its funds, and that the team there, led by Carole Patrick, will be sorely missed.
The first step in developing the digital skills programme is now under way – recruiting a Steering Group of care-experienced young people to guide the consortium’s work. This is a new area for the Scottish Tech Army and In the early discussions we have come across an expression that we will pay close attention to over the next three years as we work to deliver this project – “nothing about us without us”. Care-experienced young people must have a say in how this project is designed and delivered. Some of our partners are currently advertising through their established channels for members of a Steering Group to carry out this vital role. Thereafter the Steering Group will help develop the job description for the Programme Facilitator, who will lead the project, and be actively involved in the recruitment process.
The topic of remunerating steering group members brought about quite a lengthy conversation amongst the consortium partners. On the one hand, it would be easy to assume that paying the living wage for attending meetings and other contributions is the simple answer, but we’ve already learned how important it is that the young people themselves tell us how they want to be recognised for their contribution – some will want to be rewarded financially, others may simply want acknowledgement and others may prefer something else. We shall see. However they are compensated, their contribution will be highly valued.
In the meantime, we’re taking a look at the technologies used in the YMCA Paisley Makerspace. Digital makerspaces are an integral part of the process of engaging the young people the programme is designed to support and we looking to see how well the existing technologies within the makerspace match up with the technologies employers are seeking skills in. We will continue to post regular updates on the progress of this important project.
We're also delighted to be welcoming Kerry Reilly, CEO of YMCA Scotland, as a panellist at this year's Tech for Good Summit where she will be discussing the value of cross sectoral collaboration. Full details of this and all the other sessions at the summit and the opportunity to register can be found at http://sta.ngo/summit.