Art has impact on youths
Published 21 Nov 2012 09:30
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A COMMUNITY consultation launched after Barrhead was named as one of the most deprived areas in the country held its first session this week with unemployed youngsters.
The arts-based project, What Works Barrhead, revolves around photography and was launched last week by Barrhead Housing Association and Glasgow-based Impact Arts, which specialises in community projects.
The housing association was spurned into action after an independent review named one area of the town as the 56th most deprived area in Scotland out of more than 6,000 areas covered.
Last week the team, led by lead artist James Gow, visited Reid Kerr college's Robertson Street Skill Centre to meet youngsters enrolled in a Get Ready for Work programme, headed by Barrhead councillor Tommy Reilly.
He said: "It was great to see the youngsters really engaging with what the guys at Impact Arts had to offer.
"I have been very impressed with the plans that Impact Arts have for the next few weeks and I fully back anything that will help the young people of Barrhead to get into employment.
"Youth unemployment is one of the biggest problems faced by our town, and only so much can be done by places like the skill centre, but kids need to have the confidence to go out there and find work, and that's what Impact Arts are trying to do."
The Reid Kerr skills centre allows youngsters to build the necessary skills to find work in construction, plumbing and other construction trades.
The independent report conducted by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, showed that eight areas of East Renfrewshire have been listed in the bottom 20 per cent, with seven of these being in Barrhead.
Three feature in the bottom 15 per cent and the Dunterlie area sits at 56, in the top five per cent.
According to the SIMD report, Dunterlie has 120 people struggling to find work of a working population of 363.
Impact Arts will continue running workshops until November 30, every Friday from 12pm for 16-19 year - olds and from 3pm for 18-25 year-olds.
This article appeared in Barrhead News 14 Nov 12
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