23 WINTER 2016
After the event, Ashley said “I
hope this marks the
beginning of substantial
change in the outcomes for
care experienced young
people. I see the potential
and ability of care
experienced young people
every day and know that they
have so much to offer. That’s
why what Ayrshire College is
doing is such a great thing.
“Ayrshire College plays a
pivotal role in helping
students build their
confidence and take charge
of their lives. It is so important
that everyone in the college
understands care experienced
young people, listens to them
and takes action to ensure
that a young person’s start in
life doesn’t determine their
future.”
“Ayrshire was the first college
in Scotland to receive the
training from Who Cares?
Scotland, which developed the
course with support from the
Scottish Funding Council.”
We recently caught up with
Amy-Beth Miah, a care
experienced student who is
studying social sciences, who
explained how the College has
helped her.
Amy-Beth started a course in
the HIVE (Hope, Inspiration
and Vision in Education) – a
bespoke learning space at
Ayrshire College which offers a
range of access programmes
for young people between the
ages of 15 and 24 years. The
courses are designed to
prepare young people who
have challenges in their lives
and who may previously have
had negative experiences of
education for a range of
different reasons for further
college courses and
employment.
She is now thriving on an HNC
Social Sciences course at the
College and has ambitions to
study at The Open University
once she has completed her
HND.
“I left school with nothing. I
was leaving the care system
and was in a bad way. Yet, any
time I had a breakdown the
College would help me out.
College was always my
pick-me-up – any time I fell
down they’d be there to catch
me and help me back up. Not
only have they helped me
decide what I want to do with
my life, they’ve given me the
driving force to make it a
reality.”
She said “Being a care leaver,
I’ve noticed there are a lot of
people who have left care that
end up far too institutionalised.
They go from being in care to
being in secure units and
often end up in jail. I know
people who have come out of
jail and re-offended
deliberately to get back inside,
because they have nothing out
here. They don’t know how to
pay a bill, or how to fill out an
application form.
“I want to change that; an
ambition that stems from my
own experiences.
Currently Amy-Beth is
launching a care experienced
support group for any
students who have
experienced care. The first
session took place at the
Kilwinning campus in January
and they hope to continue to
meet once per month.