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The Rangers Charity Foundation’s Wider Achievement programme has helped young people across the city re-engage with their education to help them build a brighter future.

We work with a variety of schools to support pupils who may not be engaging optimally but could benefit from a different learning environment.

But that’s just one way to look at this vital programme. Wider Achievement also provides opportunities for secondary school pupils to work towards SQA qualifications that they may not otherwise be able to obtain.

Harry Calderwood of Eastwood High School is just one of those pupils. He is now into his second year of the programme, and he credits it with giving him a head start on where he wants to be later in life.

Harry explained how he first became involved in the Wider Achievement programme:

“I found out about Wider Achievement through school. Miss MacKinnon told me about it in a class and I was determined to get a space in it because I knew it was something that I’d like.

“I wanted to start coming here because I knew I could get extra qualifications from it and also the fact that the Rangers Charity Foundation are involved in it.

“I first started coming along at the beginning of S3 which was really fun. I enjoyed getting the extra qualifications, playing football and meeting new people. I’m back again for a second year and it’s just as good as I remember.”

The Foundation is a SQA Approved Centre and can therefore offer SQA qualifications which recognise wider achievement and the development of vocational skills which will help learners to succeed in today’s world. First Aid and Mental Health First Aid are just two examples of the accreditation available.

In his first year, Harry achieved the full ‘Steps to Work’ Award which includes three different employability units. He also worked towards practical units such as ‘Assist with Activities’ and ‘Personal Fitness’. He achieved all that within the first year along with his First Aid at work SCQF Level 6 and First Aid for Mental Health SCQF Level 5.

Harry added:

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve learned about first aid and coaching. Those qualifications will be really important for me going forwards because if I see anybody who needs help then I’ll be qualified to help out. It also means that I have experience that not many other people my age will have.”

Across the Wider Achievement programme, the Foundation is working with 18 different schools this season. Some schools nominate students who may not be engaging in the traditional learning environment, but Harry’s school identified that he could be gaining qualifications that are more relevant to him if he spent time with the Foundation.

Foundation staff deliver the programme at the Ibrox Community Complex with each group having a dedicated staff member throughout the course.

Harry explained how the staff approach helps make all the difference for those who may struggle in a traditional academic setting. He said:

“The main difference between school and the Wider Achievement programme is, in school staff can sometimes be a bit strict to try and get you to do the work whereas here the staff are a lot calmer and relaxed.”

Through his delivery of physical activity sessions to local primary school pupils, Harry quickly identified that he had a passion for it; something he may not have realised if he had not had the opportunity to do so in the traditional learning environment.

He explained how the programme has helped him plan ahead for a potential career as a PE teacher. Harry said:

“I want to become a PE teacher when I leave school because of when I came here and started coaching some the primary school pupils. I started taking sessions and then I was helping with my brother’s football team and I just thought ‘yeah I really enjoy this’ and I want to do something with it.

“Wider Achievement has helped me work towards my goal by giving me some of the employability skills that I would need to become a PE teacher that I maybe wouldn’t get the chance to earn in school.”

Community Programmes Manager for the Foundation, Jamie Duncanson, is impressed by Harry’s desire to grab the bull by the horns and his determination to make sure he maximises the opportunity he has been given.

Jamie said:

“We can see that Harry has really matured since working with us which links back to that goal of preparing young people for the world of work. The programme has given him confidence and he fully embraced it.”

Jamie also explained why the Wider Achievement programme benefits all those who attend; not just those who may be disengaged in school. He added:

“The main thing about coming here is the fact that we can provide a different way of learning. Almost everything we do on Wider Achievement is vocational so that gives pupils a different perspective.

“It is really popular with schools. Many incorporate it within their timetable which involves a group of students coming to us one day a week for the full academic year.”

“A big part of the programme as well comes from the employer engagement. We link in with a ranger of employers and external organisations who come in explain various aspects of the world of work to the pupils.”

Summarising his time on the programme Harry said:

“The best thing about this programme for me has probably been getting all the different qualifications while I’ve been here. You can have a laugh and joke with the staff here, but you know that they’re helping you work towards things which is great.

“If someone else had the opportunity to do this programme I would say to take it seriously because if you don’t, you won’t get the most out of the course. This place can set you up for the future.”

For further information please contact Community Programmes Manager, Jamie Duncanson, via e-mail on: jamieduncanson@rangers.co.uk