EAST AYRSHIRE LOCAL PLAN MOVES TOWARDS ADOPTION
Future development in East Ayrshire is looking optimistic as the latest local plan is close to being formally adopted. Agreement was reached at the Council’s Cabinet week, bringing together its strategy, a vision of land use for East Ayrshire to 2017 and beyond which actively promotes the economic, social and physical development of East Ayrshire and all of its communities.
The plan identifies a wide range of sites for housing, industry and other uses to meet future anticipated needs and provides ..read more Read more
A DIFFERENT SCHEME FOR JOBS SUCCESS
Anyone looking at the recent TV programme The Scheme might get the wrong idea about the many families – over 1,000 – living in North West Kilmarnock.
Like anywhere else, people there face problems and adversity – but the success stories are in their bids to overcome these difficulties.
Helping people get back on track careerwise is East Ayrshire Council’s Skills Development & Employability Service (SDES). Laura Neill, Improving Opportunities Manager, said: “There are many examples of people from North West ..read more Read more
FROM CRAFTSMAN TO CHARGEHAND IN 4 MONTHS
Fraser McRoberts had been out of work for 9 months and was finding it difficult to gain employment, due to the recession. A joiner to trade, Fraser, 23, fancied trying his hand at something different. . He started work through the Future Jobs Fund (FJF) with East Ayrshire Woodlands Project in November 2009 as a Forest Craftsperson – and in a record four months had a salaried post as a Chargehand.
Based initially at Woodroad Park, Cumnock, Fraser very soon demonstrated his ..read more Read more
DEAN IS RECYCLING FOR THE FUTURE
Dean Young, 24, has finally found a job he enjoys, while knowing his hard work is contributing to the environment and the wellbeing of everyone in the local community.
Dean, from Hurlford, works as a Recycling Operative in East Ayrshire Council’s Western Road Recycling Centre in Kilmarnock. He heard about the job opportunity with the Future Jobs Fund in his local Jobcentre and applied straight away.
Dean said: “This job has given me great new prospects. It has made me realise ..read more Read more
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Lee Ewing was so overjoyed on the day he was interviewed that he ran through the building shouting, “I have a job and it’s what I have always wanted!”
Now enjoying work in the great outdoors, Lee had many barriers to overcome before he got where he is today. He didn’t drive, could not afford lessons and had experienced difficulties with numeracy and literacy. Lee had gardening experience, but had been unemployed for nine months before he had the chance ..read more Read more
ROBERT TAKES CENTRESTAGE IN CAREER OF HIS CHOICE
Robert Baird, 23, now works in his dream job at Kilmarnock’s well-known and highly respected Centrestage Music Theatre – but like all the best showbiz stories, it hasn’t been easy.
A former pupil of Grange Academy, Robert gained an HNC in Media Analysis & Broadcasting from Ayr College, followed by a BA in Film Making & Screenwriting from the University of the West of Scotland. In his spare time, Robert enjoys working with video and photo-editing software, producing music videos, ..read more Read more
PARK LIFE IS TOPS FOR MICHAEL
Michael Gavin, 18, is employed through the Future Jobs Fund as a Park Warden with East Ayrshire Council – and the hard outdoor work suits him right down to the ground.
He has been working in local public parks carrying out hedge-cutting, tree maintenance, flower and shrub bed maintenance and grass-cutting. Michael also has responsibility for reporting vandalism and health and safety issues within the parks, working both on his own and within a squad.
Michael, from Galston, said: “I have ..read more Read more
THE FUTURE IS ‘GREEN’ FOR NEW JOBSEEKERS
Young jobseekers are benefiting from real employment opportunities in the type of jobs they’d like to do, as a result of an exciting initiative which is creating 596 new jobs in East Ayrshire.
Across East Ayrshire, young people are working at everything from looking after horses at Craigengillan stables in Dalmellington, to filming and recording at Kilmarnock’s Centrestage, to working in the Council’s Recycling Plant at Western Road, Kilmarnock – jobs which they have chosen according to their interests or qualifications.
Aiming ..read more Read more
EXCELLENT REPORT FOR EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, has welcomed the publication of the Accounts Commission’s Best Value 2 pathfinder audit report on the Council’s performance.
One of five local authority pathfinder audits carried out by Audit Scotland, the review commends the Council and its partners for having a clear and ambitious vision for East Ayrshire based on an awareness of the needs of its local communities. The Auditor’s report also praises the Council’s commitment to self-evaluation, commenting that the Council ..read more Read more
YOUNG POETS CHANGE THE OUTLOOK IN KILMARNOCK
Local schoolchildren working with artists have helped give a historic Kilmarnock park a fantastic new look– and perhaps changed the outlook of a good few people into the bargain.
At a ceremony last Friday, Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, unveiled two sculptural steel benches and a carved red granite poetry path. A new book of modern Scots poetry written by the young people was also launched at the packed outdoor event attended by children, families and invited ..read more Read more
