Tayinloan teens have big ideas

“What is your big idea?”

 

That was the question asked of Louise Hurd and Logan O'Hanlon, two members of Tayinloan Youth Club, recently.

 

As a member of Youth Scotland, Tayinloan Youth Club is invited to attend a two-day event called Big Ideas for people aged between 12 and 17.

 

Along with youth leader Marilyn Shedden, Louise, aged 15, and 14-year-old Logan joined about 200 other youngsters from across Scotland at the event which is held at the University of Stirling campus.

 

Accommodation is provided in the student rooms and each delegate has her or his own private room with en suite facilities.

 

The course involves the choice of many and varied workshops.

 

This is the second time Logan, who is in S3 at Campbeltown Grammar School, and Louise, an S4 pupil at Tarbert Academy, have taken part in the ‘Big Ideas’ event.

 

Marilyn, who joined them on both occasions, said: “They enjoyed it so much last year that they couldn’t wait to go back this year.

 

“We also enjoyed an extra evening there as the course starts early on the first day.

 

“This was generously funded by the West Kintyre Windfarm Trust and we are most grateful for this.

 

“Apart from the workshops, the young folk have a great opportunity to meet new people and share about life in other schools and communities.

 

“Louise and Logan really enjoyed making some great new friends and intend to continue this friendship via social media, until they meet again next year.”

 

The event enables young people to gain awards and all awards are credit rated and levelled on the Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework (SCQF), which means that they can be compared to more formal qualifications such as those gained at college or school.

 

Logan and Louise have already completed appropriate sessions last year at Stirling and also at external training in Lochgilphead within the Dynamic Youth Award.

 

To gain a Dynamic Youth Award, young people choose a ‘challenge’, set personal targets, complete a minimum of five hours of activity, think about and comment on their achievements, recording time spent on their activities and gather evidence of their participation.

 

They then receive a certificate showing their name, their challenge, hours completed and a statement of their ‘special achievements’.

 

The certificate will also show the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level and credit points.

 

“I am very proud of our young folk,” said Marilyn, “and we can’t wait for next year when we may well have some others with us on the journey.”