Posted: Wednesday 3 November 2010

Yipworld.com and Kilmarnock College forge unique partnership

A new generation of male students have made history by becoming the first group to enrol in the Early Education and Childcare course at Kilmarnock College in partnership with yipworld.com.

Award winning social enterprise company yipworld.com, based in Cumnock has been awarded a grant totalling £100,000 from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust Fund and Ayrshire LEADER to provide a unique person centred training and employability programme for ten males aged 16-22 years to engage them in the rewarding career within the gender imbalanced child care sector.

Phase one of the programme has prepared the young men for the world of work in early years care and education including high quality effective personal development courses; risk assessment and health and safety; presentation and communication skills along with placements throughout East Ayrshire in out of school care services to complement the theoretical element of the programme.

Kilmarnock College has been selected from tender to deliver the Early Education and Childcare course designed to ensure that they are encouraged to pursue their chosen career path in this profession.

Heather Dunk, Principal at Kilmarnock College, said: "This is the first time such a large group of young men have enrolled on the childcare course. The College helps to build futures and inspires individuals to fulfil their potential in their chosen path and we are delighted to welcome our new students.

"This is a great example of partnership working and demonstrates how two organisations can come together to provide flexible learning that benefits the student. We look forward to building this relationship further and rolling it out to other courses."

Janice Hendry, Development Director of yipworld.com said "It was extremely important that we had the right partner organisation to deliver the accredited element of this programme, following the excellent series of modules and training provided by Alan Gray, Training Manager dedicated to the Men into Childcare programme. Kilmarnock College presented an excellent programme of flexible learning and accredited coursework that will be both challenging and rewarding for the ten young men. The funding has been provided for a one year employability/training programme, which will be monitored closely with a view to attracting potential funding partners to continue this excellent opportunity in order that many other young men are provided with the chance to reach their full potential".

The group of ten students have been enrolled on the Intermediate 2: Early Education and Childcare qualification. The course will be based around flexible learning around the needs of the students and their practical work placement programmes. There will be a total of 12 workshops and tutorial classes until March 2011.

For information on the Men into Childcare Initiative or any other services provided by yipworld.com, log into www.yipworld.org or call 01290 422364 and ask for Janice Hendry or Alan Gray .

For further information on courses available at Kilmarnock College please call 01563 523501 or visit www.kilmarnock.ac.uk.

-Ends-

For more information, contact:

Joanne Spence, Beattie Communications, 01698 787856/ joanne.spence@beattiegroup.com

Joanna Wilson, Beattie Communications, 01698 787847/ joanna.wilson@beattiegroup.com

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