Kibble Admin

The Academy Restaurant at The Experience was transformed into an old-fashioned dance hall last Thursday (2 June) as locals joined us for our first ever SuperJam tea party.

The Experience, Kibble’s largest social enterprise and Young Workforce Development Centre, recreated the familiar dance hall of yesteryear, as guests enjoyed ballroom dance instruction, familiar songs, afternoon tea and lots of laughter. As the doors swung open at 3pm, enthusiastic faces from local care homes, and community groups, entered the dance hall dressed in their finest to join in the free event.

The event was arranged in partnership with SuperJam – global jam manufacturer based in Edinburgh. The tea parties provide an opportunity for the older generation to get together and make new friends, and aims to tackle feelings of loneliness and isolation. As the music played out, the dance floor became alive with people dancing to anything from the foxtrot, to the waltz… to the YMCA!

Based in the heart of Hillington Park, The Experience is a hub for the whole community to enjoy. Our award-winning disability karting programme provides those with additional support needs the chance to experience the adrenaline-filled world of electric Go-karting. Karters from 8 – 98 can enjoy this fantastic programme.

Speaking after the event, Eileen Cummings from The Experience said:

“Many people remember the amazing dance halls that we used to have across Paisley and Renfrewshire. We tried to recreate something similar and bring together as many people as possible to have a good time and to get people’s toes tapping.

“We know how isolation can affect the wellbeing of older people in our communities. Events like this are important to help people make new friends and continue to have active lifestyles.”

Of course, the event venue has always been abuzz with music and dance. The former Rolls Royce Factory, who produced the Merlin engines for the Spitfire and Hurricane jets in war-time, had a vibrant social scene with regular dances, cabaret and entertainment put on for staff during lunchtimes in the canteen. Mary Slater, who worked in the factory during the war, said:

“It was a good place for young people because they used to have apprenticeship dances every month. Then at the canteens, C block I think, used to have a dance and music every Friday at lunchtime.”

Helen Allan also worked at the Rolls Royce factory during World War 2. She said:

“Famous people came in during the lunch hour, like Gracie Fields and people we would never ever have expected to see. That was them doing voluntary work and to just help the war effort, it kept people going you know. There was Archie McCullock and his wife came in to entertain us at dinner time. And then there was music while you worked. The music came right through the factory, you worked away doing your nuts and bolts and screws.”

We already can’t wait to run the next SuperJam Tea Party… watch this space and dig out you little black book!

Kibble Education and Care Centre have been acknowledged for the support they give to local people volunteering in the community. Renfrewshire’s Volunteer Manager Forum presented the Volunteer Friendly Award at the launch of Volunteers’ Week 2016 during a ceremony in Paisley town hall last week.

The ceremony is part of a series of events across the UK that are designed to encourage and support the 21 million people who volunteer in their local community. This year it is estimated that volunteering in the UK contributed £23.9Bn to the economy.

Graham Bell, Chief Executive of Kibble Education and Care Centre said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be given the Volunteer Friendly Award. The contribution volunteers make to Kibble as an organisation is extremely valuable and this is a chance to celebrate them.

“Everyone works hard to make sure our volunteers are properly supported. We offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities so whether you are looking to give back to the local community or just wanting to meet new people, volunteering is open to anyone.”

Renfrewshire’s Volunteer Manager Forum represents over 40 organisations, partners and agencies involved in all aspects of volunteering. Statistics from the Scottish Household Survey (2013) state that 26% of adults (37,000 people) living in Renfrewshire volunteer formally through an organisation or group.

Presenting the award was Alan McNiven, CEO of Engage Renfrewshire. He said:

“Congratulations to Kibble for their achievement. Renfrewshire knows that volunteers are wonderful and truly deserve recognition for the valuable difference they make to our local communities.

“Everyone has a different reason for volunteering but they all have one thing in common, they make a big difference through the time that they freely give. This event is a celebration of these people and I want to thank them.”

YOUNG people and their foster carers took advantage of the recent Bank Holiday to cycle round the Island of Cumbrae. The trip was organised by the Fostering Service team at Kibble and brought young people together from throughout the West of Scotland.

30 people altogether took part in cycling before having lunch and even an afternoon session of karaoke. Cumbrae was chosen for its ideal location since most of the foster families are local to North Ayrshire.

Kay Gibson from Kibble’s Intensive Fostering Service said:

“Just because our young people are in foster care, we don’t want them to miss out on the fun of a family Bank Holiday. Many of the children we look after come from very challenging backgrounds and may not have had the typical family experiences that many of us take for granted.

“These activities are not just about having fun though. The experience today was also about some of our kids challenging themselves to try new things.

“Whether it is something as simple as going on a ferry across the water or to interact with their peers in an unfamiliar environment, progress means different things to vulnerable young people but we are seeing huge improvements.

“I just want to put on record my thanks to those people who helped make this day trip possible. However I would like to pay tribute to the people of Millport and Cumbrae who could not have been friendlier or more helpful. We loved our trip and we will be sure to be back.”

A PROMINENT education professional has described a Go-Karting and leisure venue as “unique” for its approach to helping young people into the jobs market. Sir David Bell, former Chief Inspector of Schools in England and Wales, made the comments after being given a tour of The Experience in Hillington Park, Renfrewshire this week.

The Experience is owned and operated as a social enterprise by Paisley charity Kibble. It offers comprehensive training to local young people in all aspects of the hospitality industry. Sir David and his wife Lady Louise made the visit after accepting an invite from his brother, Kibble Chief Executive Graham Bell.

Having started his career as a primary school teacher in Glasgow, Sir David became Chief Inspector of Schools at OFSTED in 2002 and Permanent Secretary to the Department of Education in 2006. He left the civil service in 2012 to become the Vice Chancellor of The University of Reading.

Sir David said:

“It has been fantastic to see first-hand the work that Kibble has been doing to help those furthest from the jobs market. My career has seen me work at school level, local government level and national level but the scale and multi-faceted approach to training youngsters makes The Experience unique.

“Whether it is the go-karting, conference facilities or the impressive Academy Restaurant, the opportunities for gaining experience and skills in hospitality are second to none. The huge advantage of having a social enterprise model is that all the profits are reinvested into improving the business.”

As well as offering supported training opportunities to those with barriers to employment, the Kibble Group  is perhaps better known for its residential school and care accommodation. Founded in 1859, Kibble has gained a reputation for using innovative techniques to help youngsters facing the most distressing circumstances.

Sir David Bell added:

“Learning more about the positive impact that Kibble has on kids is particularly pleasing. I get the impression that where some public agencies admit they cannot help, no matter what the circumstances Kibble does not take no for an answer. That sends a powerful message to the young people.

“It is evident that Kibble believes  that every child is entitled to the same chance to succeed. Education and social care provide opportunity where it would otherwise not be available.”

Eileen Cummings Executive Director of Young Workforce Development at Kibble said:

“It was fantastic to welcome Sir David and Lady Louise to The Experience. I know that David has had a long and distinguished career in education so it is very welcome to have his seal of approval.

“The Experience will continue to offer valuable training and skills to young people across Renfrewshire and the West of Scotland that prepares them for their future careers.”

OSKARS are having a fun-filled community day on Friday 15th April between 10am – 4pm.

Based at 55 Clark Street, the Paisley charity provide a range of second-hand furniture, white goods, and other household items at affordable prices. Services also include painting and decorating, gardening, and home clearances.

As part of the Kibbleworks family, Oskars offers quality goods to those on low incomes, while providing youth employment, education and training to young people.

Speaking ahead of the event, Manager of Oskars Karen Gilligan said:

“This event is a great chance for people in Renfrewshire and beyond to find out what we can do for them. We have grown over the years to provide a reliable and quality service for both individual customers and large companies.

“We are planning on having upcycling demonstrations, craft workshops, a car boot sale and much more. Come along and join the fun at our place in the heart of Paisley, 55 Clark Street.”

To find out more, visit www.oskars.org.uk or call Karen on 0141 847 6626.

St Mirren and Comic Relief team up with Kibble to provide music sessions to pupils.

THIS week, young people got the chance to learn the art of beatboxing thanks to an innovative partnership between Kibble Education and Care Centre and St Mirren Football Club. The music lessons are designed to give young people in care the opportunity to learn about different instruments.

The project was funded by Comic Relief and the Scottish Professional Football League.  It was co-ordinated by Glasgow East Arts Company, with expert tuition provided by famed Glasgow beatbox artist Bigg Taj. Taj has become well known for his appearance on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent as well as coming 8th in last year’s UK Beatbox Championships.

Speaking ahead of the event,Taj said:

“Many of the kids will have probably heard beatboxing before but never tried it. These tuition sessions will teach them the basics and to let them have a go themselves.

“Beatboxing has been a passion of mine for over a decade and I always love teaching young people some of the skills. Who knows, hopefully someone here today will be inspired to take up beatboxing after today.”

Ross Paterson from St Mirren Football Club said:

“The aim of the project is to provide music making opportunities for young people in care. With funding from the SPFL trust we are looking to deliver a 10 week programme to work with at least 15 young people.

“We are trying to engage the young people through music and to hopefully lead into other activities the club can offer such as football coaching sessions.

“Collaborations like this with Kibble are a key part of our social mission at the club, and we are looking forward to more joint work in the future.”

Neil Govan, Head Teacher of Kibble Education and Care Centre, said:

“I would like to thank Taj and Ross for their help in providing this programme for our young people. Events like this are an important part of their learning whilst attending Kibble, and it is great to have something so different like beatboxing.

“We are always looking for new and diverse ways of engaging young people in rich learning experiences. Partnerships such as these so very helpful and I look forward to linking up again with St Mirren Football Club in the future.”

STAFF and young people at Oskars were delighted to welcome Scottish Minister Annabelle Ewing to talk about new employability opportunities, while learning about the work of Oskars.

The Minister for Youth and Women’s Employment chatted to Kibble’s young trainees to hear first-hand about the opportunities and experiences of Oskars employability and training programme, operated by KibbleWorks.

Oskars is one of a number of social enterprises within KibbleWorks, providing second-hand furniture, white goods, and other household items to those on low incomes. In addition, Oskars offer a range of household and business services including painting and decorating, bulk uplift and gardening. Oskars provide youth employment, education and skills training to young people furthest removed from the job market, opening up access to future employment opportunities.

Annabelle Ewing, Minister for Youth and Women’s Employment, said:

“Young people can face many challenges in finding work and it is important that support and training is available to ensure that they can see a positive future for themselves. The sort of backing that Oskars provides is vital in ensuring that young people, like those I met today, do not lose hope or give up on their ambitions just when they should be starting out in their careers.

“Today I was able to see the zero waste and recycling social enterprise as well as a tour of some of the 12 other programmes Kibble provides through its young workforce development. These allow the young people taking part to build their skills and confidence and know that they are doing work that is helping their communities.”

Manager Karen Gilligan said:

“It has been great to welcome the Minister to our showroom to see some of the exciting work going on here.

“We are aiming to provide as many training opportunities as possible for local young people and our range of services now include painting and decorating, gardening, bulk uplift services, and home and office clearances.

“Our young people work incredibly hard every day to be ready for the world of work. The skills they gain here help them achieve that goal.”

Training and employment opportunities at KibbleWorks are open to 16-24 year olds who are currently unemployed. There are also opportunities specifically for those who have care experience. For more information about these opportunities, or to find out more about the services Oskars provide, contact us on 0141 847 6626 or visit the website.

THE curtain is up on this year’s panto ‘McCinders’ performed by young people from Kibble alongside VIP guest, actor Jasmin Riggins, star of the award-winning film Angel’s Share.

McCinders, performing on the 9th and 10th December, is a hilarious Scottish take on the children’s classic Cinderella. It follows the story of how an innocent daughter’s life is turned upside down after her lonely father finds love on the internet. The impositions of the evil step sisters, Fran and Anna, make for a highly entertaining, satirical Scottish version on the original fairy-tale.

After months of rehearsals, costume calls, make-up trials and lots of laughter! The stage is set and the camera is rolling! It’s clear there are a lot of future stars in Kibble as our young actors and actresses have left audience with “sore faces from laughing so loudly”.

Famed actress Jasmin Riggins, 23, took time out of her busy acting schedule to star in the play, along with fellow student as part of their acting studies with West College Scotland.

Speaking ahead of the performance, Jasmin said:

“I love pantomimes, they are always great fun and put me in the mood for Christmas. I jumped at the chance to get involved at Kibble this year because it will be great experience for me and my classmates.

“I have worked on a short film with staff from Kibble before so I know all about the important work that they do on campus with the youngsters. McCinders is just one part of that, and acting alongside the kids will benefit them as well.”

Starring as the evil stepsister Anna in the panto, Creative Arts Development Officer Gavin Sinclair said:

“I just want to thank Jasmin and all the students from West College Scotland. Their input has been vital in helping the Kibble youngsters put on such an impressive show.

“The confident, capable performances don’t just happen and weeks of hard work allow the boys and girls to conquer their nerves and deliver in front of a packed audience. When it all comes together like it did this evening you can’t help but feel incredibly proud of this school.”

Youngsters host car wash for Teenage Cancer Trust

CHILDREN and young people at Kibble Education and Care Centre (KECC) were this week recognised for their fundraising efforts to help teenagers diagnosed with cancer. The Teenage Cancer Trust received the donation after staff and pupils had organised and hosted a car wash at the school, raising £131.60.

Pupils were also given a potentially lifesaving talk about the symptoms and causes of the disease before the cheque was officially presented. Vanessa Todd of the Teenage Cancer Trust said:

“I want to thank the young people of Kibble for their hard work in putting on this event. We can only continue our important work because of generosity like theirs.

“Hosting a carwash is a fun way to get as many people from the community involved. All the money they raised will help another young person who is coming to terms with their illness, and to help them in their recovery.”

Before the cheque was handed over, Vanessa took the opportunity to teach the pupils about what the Teenage Cancer Trust do, as well as showing a video of the experiences of young people who have fought the illness. Statistics show that every day in the UK, 7 people between 13 and 24 years old are diagnosed with cancer.

Head Teacher Neil Govan said:

“Despite the weather, the kids were in great spirits and did a fantastic job on cleaning the cars. Some of the youngsters also sold raffle tickets and collected donations.

“Events like this are an important part of their learning whilst attending Kibble, but it is also wonderful when we can raise money for a good cause. I want to pay tribute to all of the hard work that the pupils and staff put into the event.”