Trainee Child and Youth Care Worker Kyle rang in the New Year by playing bagpipes across Kibble’s Paisley campus, delighting young people and adults.
Kyle is gaining the necessary qualifications, skills and experience to become a Child and Youth Care Worker through Kibble’s Career Start Training Programme. Over 12-months, Kyle earns while spending time in one of our residential children’s houses alongside a mentor and working towards an HNC in Social Services. Upon completion, he is guaranteed an interview to continue his career at Kibble.
An essential element of the apprenticeship-inspired programme involves being based inside one of our houses, acting as a helping hand to the permanent staff team who support care-experienced young people.
Kyle got involved in youth care as he wanted to pursue a career that gave him purpose. He was drawn to the idea of helping young people lead positive and healthy lifestyles.
The genuine motivation to do work that mattered has strengthened Kyle’s commitment to learning new skills and thrive in the Career Start apprenticeship-inspired programme. He immediately slotted in to the house and got involved in the day-to-day routines of the house, quickly building warm positive relationships with young people and the adults he worked alongside.
Kyle was determined to bring happy childhood memories to youngsters and already as a Trainee he has created a Hogmanay those around him will always remember. The sound carried through the campus and included: Flower of Scotland, Scotland the Brave, The Rowan Tree, Green Hills of Tyrol, Lochanside, and The Battles O’er.
Every shift of Kyle’s is different, often with time spent in the house with young people and adults or taking youngsters out. Also, paperwork is essential. For New Year’s Eve, the team wanted the evening to feel calm, prioritising time together over big celebrations. The plan was to relax, be together and make wholesome memories. Kyle’s personal hobby of bagpiping added fun, energy and liveliness!
Young people were curious to hear Kyle play with one saying: “I was looking forward to hearing Kyle play and what the bagpipes would sound like. At first they seemed a bit loud but they actually made me feel happy and I couldn’t help smiling.”
Kyle had a natural talent for music and the experience has led him to encourage youngsters to pursue activities they enjoy: “Hobbies are such an important thing and essential to building self-esteem. It shows young people that although challenging moments arise when learning something new, it’s worth it when you can get past that period.”
Kyle has been playing the bagpipes for 12 years and understands first-hand how learning about something you have a genuine interest in can build self-confidence and enjoyment. Kyle’s belief of encouraging young people to reach their full potential makes him exceptionally well-suited for a career as a Child and Youth Care Worker.
Kyle is on-track to qualify as a Child and Youth Care Worker in the summer and intends to interview for us. If successful, there’s potential for Kyle’s bagpiping to be a Kibble Hogmanay tradition.
Kyle is up for his bagpiping becoming an annual event in the calendar: “I always enjoy these types of things and knowing it can bring so much joy makes it even more worth it, so here’s hoping I’ll get the chance to do it again!”.
Join Kyle
We’re in-search of people like Kyle who would like to change careers and bring their own life experience, hobbies and talents to mentor care-experienced young people as a Child and Youth Care Worker.
Find out more about our Career Start Training Programme and follow a similar path to Kyle.