Students with troubled past net SQA boost

Published on Friday 17 July 2009 10:31

STUDENTS who have overcome difficult lives to gain SQA qualifications are set to receive their certificates.

A total of 117 students from the charity Access to Industry's Passport and Transition Projects will receive 179 qualifications at Moray House, in Holyrood Road, today.

The certificates will be presented by Margaret McLeod of Youthlink Scotland.

Access to Industry helps young people move successfully into adult life after being in care, in prison, or after a history of substance abuse, homelessness, or street sex work.

The charity's caseworker, Heather Nicholson, will also be presented with a 2009 National Youth Worker of the Year award for helping develop the service.

Sian Fiddimore, Access to Industry's chief executive, said: "For all of our students, this is just the start of their new careers as they recognise the important part education plays in gaining employment, especially in these more competitive times.

"Over the past year, we have worked with over 530 students – 114 have moved on to college, 83 have got on to employability training programmes and 68 have moved on to jobs.

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