A “birthday celebration”was held in Girvan to celebrate ten years of successful operation by SCOOP - South Carrick Open Opportunities Project.

During this time the SCOOP, an area-based training and employment initiative which is now part of the Social Justice section within South Ayrshire Council, has provided assistance and training for nearly 3,000 people from the Girvan and South Carrick area.

Special guests at the occasion were the Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Andy Hill and Councillor Robert Campbell, Convener of the Council’s Economic and Tourism Development Committee who, as Strathclyde Regional Councillors, had successfully campaigned to have the project established in January, 1995.

In a speech congratulating Betty McDonald, the project co-ordinator and staff together with a range of clients who attended the informal “celebration”, Councillor Hill spoke of the efforts that had had made championing the case for the project to be set up by the Regional Council.

Said Councillor Hill: “It was clear to me that there was virtually no provision for local training, and no facility for further education, unless people travelled to Ayr or Dumfries, and there were no employment prospects without education or training.

“It was a clear-cut ‘catch 22’situation. I felt quite justified in arguing with fellow Councillors who had interests in other parts of Strathclyde and badgering chief officers. I was ably supported by Councillor Campbell

“All the efforts eventually bore fruit and the undoubted and very real basis of my argument was recognised. There was a justified need to have local learning opportunities created in the Girvan area …and so SCOOP was born.

SCOOP was established in January 1995 by the Regional Council in response to what was termed “the large percentage of unemployed people within the South Carrick area”.

And it had as its aim “to assist residents of South Carrick to access training and employment.”

Councillor Hill spoke of the vast number of people who had benefited, including people who are unemployed, people recently made redundant, women returners, people living in rural areas, and those who have previously been unable to access training due to problems with travel, childcare and the like.

And he recalled that less than two years ago the Learning House at SCOOP was awarded the learndirect Scotland “Learning Centre of the Year”award.

Said Councillor Hill: “That was an achievement to be rightly proud of. Nominations had been sought from learners at 450 centres. From these nominations, a shortlist of five was drawn up and the winner was selected from these by a panel of experts.

“Project staff at SCOOP felt the award was therefore doubly rewarding - being an endorsement by both learners and fellow professionals.

“I was proud to be here on the occasion when the award was made, and I am equally proud to be standing here today.”

Congratulating Betty McDonald he said: “You and your staff are to be congratulated on the continued success of SCOOP.

“This occasion is a celebration of the anniversary of the creation of SCOOP, but it should also be considered as recognition of the efforts shown by the hundreds of clients who have registered with the project, and also an appreciation of the staff of SCOOP and their undoubted commitment to the project’s success.”

Betty McDonald outlined the range and variety of training which had been provided by SCOOP, and explained that almost 3000 people had received assistance.

She also introduced four people who in turn spoke of the benefits and achievements that they had gained from making use of the facilities and training at SCOOP –Tommy Donnelly, Angela Isdale, Cathy Gibson and Gillian Shields.

Proudly showing off the celebration birthday cake, from the left: Cathy Gibson, Gillian Anderson, Senior Clerical Officer with SCOOP; Councillor Robert Campbell, Betty McDonald, Project Co-ordinator; Councillor Andy Hill, Gillian Shields and Stasia Warwick, Opportunities Adviser with SCOOP.

January 2005