Community To Benefit From Students’ Awards Prowess

Community groups in Inverclyde will benefit from lots of hard studying done by the people who run them. Volunteers and full-time workers completed a 12-week community-based ‘Activate’ course organised by Inverclyde Community Development Trust to help them improve their skills.

Now they will go on to study in Glasgow University and James Watt College. Provost Michael McCormick presented certificates to them and praised their dedication. He said: “You have shown your commitment to your community and your determination to develop your skills in community learning and development for the benefit of this community.

“All of you have been involved in voluntary and community activity for some time and have taken the opportunity to develop your knowledge bylooking more deeply at what community work is, studying the values and principles of community work and the issues involved in decision-making both in a local and global context.”

Seven of the eight students will go to university to study community development while the other will study social care at the college. The Provost added: “Hopefully this will lead to your finding employment in this field locally, or enhancing your opportunities for promotion. Most importantly, it will enable you to give your best to help in the building up of the community of Inverclyde.”

Trust head of services Jim Dornan said: “The Activate course involved looking at key principles and methods of community learning and development, as well as practical experience of group work and dealing with conflict.”