FORMER shipyard welder Jim Crawford has proved that men really do care. Jim, from St Leonard’s, in East Kilbride was one of the first to join the Men Can Care programme, which recruited men and trained them to work in the child and youth care sector. After the nine-month programme Jim has now gained his Scottish Progression Award for Children and Young People. And he’s also landed a job at Kibble - the UK’s largest multi-service centre working with children at risk – as an enterprise project worker teaching boys practical skills. Jim said: “The Men Can Care programme is a fantastic idea and it has allowed me to do a job I really wanted to do.
“I had always enjoyed teaching the apprentices when I worked at Yarrow’s shipyard on the Clyde. When I left there I was a self-employed welder, but I decided I wanted to work in the care sector. “The training I have received this year has been first class and has given me a great insight into this type of work – especially as I had no experience of working in the care sector.” The Men Can Care campaign - run by the Kibble education and care centre, in Paisley, Renfrewshire – aims to combat the shortage of males in the child and youth care sector in Scotland by providing a youth care training programme and challenging the misconception that looking after youngsters isn’t a man’s job. The project, which starts again on April 1, is supported by the European Social fund and is offering 17 men the chance to train and get work experience in child and youth care. An information and recruitment event is being held at Kibble, in Goudie Street, Paisley on Thursday, February 10, between 5pm and 8pm; Friday, February 11 between 3pm and 7pm and Saturday, February 12 between 10am and 2pm. A shuttle bus will operate from Paisley Gilmour Street railway station. The men who will be selected to take part in the 39-week training and work-experience course will receive a wage of £5.61 per hour, plus an allowance for unsocial working. This means a total of £1059.80 (gross) per month. In addition there will be assistance with child care and travelling costs. Men Can Care project manager, Neil McMillan revealed that there is a shortage of men - who are vital positive role models for young boys with behavioural problems - working in child and youth care sector. He said: “We have to address the problems of recruiting men to work with young people and overcome the inaccurate perception that it’s not a ‘man’s job’ “We have been extremely successful in our campaign to recruit men and give them the training and qualifications to find a job in the youth care sector. Out of initial 32 students, 90 per cent already have jobs.” Any men interested in a career in youth care should contact 0141 889 0044 or go to the website www.mencancare.org