Relevant education and training is important in all our lives. The services below are ready to help with practical advice and support:
We work with young people up to the age of 25 years, to access employer engagement opportunities to help develop employability skills. We can support with accessing work placement opportunities.
Contact: orkneydyw@uhi.ac.uk
Tel: (01856) 569 352
Skills Development Scotland offer an all-age careers advice and guidance service. We provide assistance and support with career planning, goal setting and job seeking. We aim to develop and promote Career Management Skills which will help individuals achieve success. Our careers advisers are based in schools across Orkney and in the Kirkwall Centre on Albert Street.
Contact: Kirkwall@sds.co.uk
01856 872460
UHI Orkney looks forward to welcoming Care Leavers to their next steps in Education. We can offer:
Contact: Kerri Bickmore (Inclusion and Wellbeing Manager)
Kerri.Bickmore@uhi.ac.uk
SAAS is the Student Awards Agency Scotland, they support with the costs of education in Scotland to help people who take on further education at a college or university. SAAS offer support for Care Experienced Students.
Find out more about how SAAS can support Care Experienced Students.
Targeted housing support for Care Leavers (includes support to access education and training)
Contact: Leah Bliss
Leah@blidetrust.org
Tel : 07516245449
Targeted scaffolding support to Care Leavers and Care Experienced Young people, including accessing education and training as well as the ‘purposeful Blide’ project.
Contact: Jaden Browne
Jaden@blidetrust.org
Tel: 07719732999
ICIT is Heriot-Watt University’s Orkney campus, located in Stromness and specializing in research, training, and consultancy in marine and renewable energy. Established in 1989, it is a world leader in its field, offering postgraduate programs and using the Orkney Islands as a “living laboratory” for environmental research, with a focus on marine resource management, renewable energy technologies, and conservation. The center works with a diverse range of clients, including renewable energy developers and government agencies, and prepares graduates for careers in the growing renewable energy sector.
Contact: icit@hw.ac.uk
Volunteering opportunities
Community groups
The Learning Link is a centre dedicated to adults to help them reach their full potential. This could be learning to read and write, improve spelling, grammar and/or punctuation, help with math/numberwork, learn basic computing skills and how to be safe online, brush up your skills to help with children’s homework, or helping people to gain essential skills for work, volunteering or getting on to higher education and improve confidence and skills.
Contact: thelearninglinkenquiries@orkney.gov.uk
01856 879200
Advocacy can offer support to care-experienced young people to:
Sexual Violence Prevention Programme delivered by ORSAS to S1-S4 mainstream pupils in 5 secondary schools across Orkney as part of PSE timetable.
Rape Crisis Prevention Programme Brochure
Contact : Kara Leslie
kara.leslie@orsas.scot
Tel: 01856872298
Connect works with young people (15-21) who find things particularly challenging at this transition point in life and takes referrals from partner agencies, young people or their carers who feel that more individualised support to build confidence and skills is what may be needed.
Programmes are strength and interest based and may include small group work, supported volunteering and links with other services and agencies.
Contact: karen.mack@vaorkney.org.uk
01856 872897
During normal office hours Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm Contact Orkney Health and Care Children and Families Services on 01856 873535 extension 3342 or if the person is an adult call 01856 873535 and ask for Adult Social Work
This will take you to The Balfour Hospital switchboard then you ask for the Emergency Social Worker.
