The number of young people prospering from a council education project has plummeted in recent years – despite an increase in those taking part.
Aberdeenshire Council’s community learning and development (CLD) service aims to help teenagers develop more skills and get them more enthusiastic about learning.
Through it, participants can gain accomplishments to add to their CV and impress prospective employers.
They typically complete courses such as the John Muir environmental award scheme, the government’s Saltire Award volunteering project and the Princes Trust – which was founded by the Prince of Wales to help vulnerable young people get their lives on track.
But figures obtained by the Press and Journal show that the number of those leaving with anything to show for their efforts has dropped by 33.5% – from 284 last year to 189 in 2018/19.
In 2016/17 there were 434 youngsters accredited by the service, and 644 in 2015/16.
The figures stand in stark contrast to those documenting the number of people joining the CLD service.
There was a 12.2% increase in 2018/19 – from 2,653 to 2,977
And other than in 2017/18, there has been an annual increase every year since 2014.
Aberdeenshire Council claims the drop is is due a change in approach, rather than youngsters achieving on a lesser scale.
But Martin Danziger, from the Modo theatre group, helps youngsters in Peterhead complete the scheme and believes it is “disheartening” that fewer are earning the awards.
He said: “It is interesting to compare as we’re only working in the Peterhead catchment area, and have have high levels of engagement despite being on limited funding.
“It’s disheartening that the numbers the council works with, and the numbers they accredit, don’t match the resources available to them.”
Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP, Stewart Stevenson, found the figures “difficult to explain” and called for an inquiry.
He said: “It is important that the council undertakes a rigorous investigation, with a view to ensuring that all have appropriate opportunities to make the best of their lives.”
A spokesman for the council explained that the CLD service has moved towards a “targeted approach”.
He said: “The move away from a universal approach to targeted learning means that the support provided does not always focus on accreditation, at least initially.
“The new approach has led to an increase in partnership work between CLD and schools.
“Education and Children’s Services and CLD also engage with young people in a variety of ways.
“Examples include the Aberdeenshire Children and Young People’s Charter; the award-winning Peterdeen initiative, as well as a variety of discussion forums.
“These groups enable young people to have a real voice in their communities and ensure that issues that matter to them are acted upon by decision-makers.”
