We’re delighted to be partnering with Dumfries and Galloway College to support local care experienced students.

Learning from our previous #YSAttain projects with local partners, we will be working together and using Young Scot Smart Services to provide opportunities to care experienced students focussing on four key areas:

• Health and wellbeing

• Community

• Employability

• Independent living

Since 2018, we have been working with local authorities to use the smart-enabled Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC) in innovative ways to provide practical, local entitlements to young people facing inequalities and barriers to their attainment. This project is known as #YSAttain. We are now sharing these models with further local authorities and organisations, such as Dumfries and Galloway College, to adapt entitlements to best support local young people.

This partnership will focus on providing a package of opportunities to more than 100 care experienced students using the Membership section of young.scot. Students will be able to access a range of Young Scot Rewards as well as opportunities to further engage with the college and information to support their educational experience. The Rewards will include digital vouchers, including supermarket vouchers and online shopping vouchers – supporting them with their studying or independent living.

With campuses in Dumfries and Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway College is one of the main education providers in the South of Scotland. They provide a range of learning and training opportunities, they aim to equip students with skills, knowledge and experience to move into further education or employment. Through the delivery of these opportunities, Dumfries and Galloway College is supporting their duty as a Corporate Parent, to support and promote the wellbeing of their care experienced students.

At Dumfries and Galloway College we are striving to ensure all of our students can fulfill their potential, sustain learning, and progress in education, life and work. We are particularly focused on how we can work with partners to co-create services that enhance the student experience and support personalised pathways. We are delighted to be working with Young Scot on this bespoke project to help undersupported students' wellbeing and welfare out with college life and we look forward to observing the impact we know it will have.

Phil Storrier, Director of Student Experience and Academic Performance

Want to learn more about #YSAttain and find out how you can support young people experiencing barriers? Get in touch with the team to find out how #YSAttain can support you.