Stand and Deliver

This week (week 11) the Youth Academy took the Activities Agreement staff by surprise to say thank you for all their help and support in getting them into training and their continued support while they have been here! They also included a special surprise for one of the staff who was retiring at the end of the month!

Having planned the date, the invites, the gifts, the cards, layout of the room, the visuals, the music and refreshments AND having come in under their set budget! (Using a range of skills that they will use in the workplace) There was a large audience to witness the stunned key worker responses as they had been joined by KDS staff and Stevie Kidd!

There were nerves before the event but you would never have noticed as each of the young people confidently rose to the front of the room to speak and deliver gifts to all the key workers, Stevie Kidd and Andrew Craig! (it’s not often you can manage to get all of these people speechless at the same time but they did manage it today!) Personalised mugs, personalised chocolates for the men and flowers for the ladies, each person left with an anchor that will forever remind them of the big changes they have seen in these young people, and the impact they made on their life!

Brilliant transformation in the 11 weeks and this was recognised by everyone in attendance and by the young people themselves. When asked afterwards if it was as hard as they thought it would be there was a unanimous response of “No it was easy” When pointed out what they did that morning would be harder than any interview situation they realised they had overcome another barrier to their futures!

Standing straighter, glowing with confidence and pride and now very used to interacting with a variety of other people (and receiving compliments!) the guys left buzzing for their very well deserved weekend!

What a team, what an achievement, what a result! (from one very proud Trainer!)

Posted by Kate Sutherland on 25 March 2011 in : KDS Training, KDS Youth Training, Training employability

9 Comments

Posted by David Craig on 04 April 2011

An excellent day. Great to see the changes in all of the young people. Their commitment and persistence is paying dividends and they are starting to see the results. The growth in confidence and maturity was evident when each young person stood and addressed the assembled group of staff - something which can be a very daunting thing to do and they all handled it superbly. If the phrase "If its to be - its up to me" holds true - these guys will go as far as their goals will take them and achieve all the success they''re prepared to work for. Everyone has been asked the question - "What do you want first the good news or the bad news" - The bad news is guys ''Your future is in your hands'' - The good news is ''Your future is in your hands'' GO FOR IT! Well done!

Posted by Winine Walker on 29 March 2011

What a fabuulous day and many thanks for the invitiation. I really enjoyed being there to see difference in the young people and to hear first hand about the journey they have been on. To see them go from being almost unsure of themselves and their role in KDS to being the bright, conifident young people who greeted us on Thursday is something that they and of course Katie should. be really proud of. Keep up the good work.

Posted by Tommy Gray on 28 March 2011

Fantastic Day and wonderful change in the youth Academy, Kate and the team thanks for the invite and again a massive change in the team.

Posted by Edmund McKay on 27 March 2011

Sorry I could not attend guys, but by all accounts you did yourselves proud. Well done. Now onwards and upwards

Posted by Michelle Lockard on 25 March 2011

Thank you for inviting me along to your event today. The transformation in the group is great having watched them develop and learn from day one until now. You should all be very proud of yourselves. Well Done...

Posted by Darren Conway on 25 March 2011

Thanks for invite today. Fantastic to see how these Young People have progressed in such a short space of time. With the help and support of KDS it is apparrent that when given enough motivation and encouragement these Young adults can achieve great things. As Stevie ststed earlier "If they strive for perfection they will make great progress". Special mention to Kate also who was instrumental in getting the focus correct. WELL DONE AGAIN GUYS.

Posted by Lynsey Mackay on 25 March 2011

Fantastic work guys, sounds like you all had a really good day! Well done on all the planning also!

Posted by Steven Hunter on 25 March 2011

"World Class" That''s the words that spring to mind, these guys have worked so hard over these 11 weeks. Massive changes in all of them and you should be proud Kate. You''ve done an amazing job. Stevie Hunter Training Manager

Posted by Roger on 25 March 2011

To the guys on the Youth Academy and Katie, apologies I couldnt make it due to being elsewhere on KDS business. But each day, we speak ith Katie, and hear how the youth academy candidates are making huge leaps and bounds and I wish I''d been able to be more involved. What a fantastic way to say thanks. It''s an important word! Keep learning!

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